Tomorrow marks 70 years since the death of Pat McCarran. The Reno native spent more than two decades representing Nevada as a U.S. Senator, but most Las Vegans associate his name with our international airport. Or at least they used to.
⛏️ Battle Born
McCarran was a Nevadan from beginning to end. He was born on a ranch west of Reno, graduated from the University of Nevada, and was a lawyer in Nye County. He served as a justice on the Nevada Supreme Court and in the state legislature before heading to Washington.
🏛️ Washington Power Broker
McCarran was elected to the U.S. Senate four times and became one of the most powerful members of Congress. He was a fierce advocate for a strong national defense and extremely influential in the world of aviation, authoring the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1934, which regulated air travel, and the Federal Airport Act of 1945, which developed a nationwide network of public airports.
🪦 A Politician To the End
McCarran was still in office when he died at 78 years old. He gave a speech at a political rally in Hawthorne, a small military community between Tonopah and Reno, and collapsed about 10 minutes later while walking down an aisle in the auditorium. It was his third heart attack.
🤑 Political 'Bribe'?
The same day he died, McCarran stopped by a crowded barber shop in Fallon and offered a customer money to take his place in the chair. Think of it as his last public act. After traveling to Hawthorne, he had dinner with the commanding officer, took part in a parade, and showed no signs of health complications before addressing the audience.
Sen. McCarran and Amelia Earhart, probably talking about airplanes. (Bettman/Getty)
🛩️ Dubious Legacy
McCarran lived long enough to see Alamo Field renamed McCarran Field (later McCarran International Airport) after helping Clark County purchase the airport. Although described as “controversial” upon his death by the Las Vegas Sun, the senator’s legacy has become even more questionable over time. He’s been described as racist and anti-semetic, drafting anti-immigration legislation and attempting to block Jewish people from positions in government.
💰 Airport Redo
Legislation was passed to rename McCarran International Airport after late Senator Harry Reid in 2021. The expenses for changing the name in signage and other materials were covered by private donations.
👀 A Capitol Presence
McCarran isn’t fully canceled — at least not in Washington. His likeness remains in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. Another statue representing Nevada depicts Paiute activist Sarah Winnemucca, offering a balanced reflection of a state that continues to evolve.
- There’s a lot of weird stuff to check out inside Harry Reid International Airport.
