The Wilson Center staff and scholars mourn the passing of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Senator Reid served the people of the Silver State for 34 years in Congress, the first four in the House and the next 30 in the Senate. His leadership of the Senate saw some of the most influential legislation in a generation become law and, on the international front, his public support of the Darfuri people being systematically murdered in Sudan helped steer the nation’s attention to the issue.

In 2007 Senator Reid spoke at The Wilson Center about the state of the War in Iraq and the important, bipartisan discussions taking place and, as always, he did not mince words. “I am proud of the role the Senate and the House are playing in this historic debate,” Senator Reid said. “It is a constructive - and long overdue - effort to put some spine in our policy.”

Our condolences go out to Landra, his wife of 62 years, and Senator Reid’s family, friends and colleagues.