Senator Howard Cannon of Nevada

This is the only biography of one of the twentieth-century's most influential politicians.Howard Cannon, who represented Nevada in the U.S. Senate from 1958 until 1982, was one of its most productive and influential members. And because he was a modest man more comfortable with hard work than self-aggrandizement, he was also one of the Senate's most underappreciated figures. Nonetheless, Cannon's career influenced many major changes in American politics and policies during his time in office.Born to a devout Mormon family in a small farming community in southwest Utah, Cannon served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and emerged from the war as a hero. Soon he was part of the postwar migration of ambitious and adventurous Americans to the booming desert city of Las Vegas, where he practiced law and entered local politics. In 1958, he was elected to the U.S. Senate and joined a group of influential young Democratic senators who were to play a major role in shaping the country's future.His service on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Armed Services; and Rules Committees led to major changes in the transportation industry, U.S. election laws, and national military preparedness, as well as significant measures that were important to the development of Nevada. The result of Vernetti's research is a biography of a brilliant man whose dedication and integrity were ultimately undercut by his stubborn reticence and characteristic modesty. The book is a revealing glimpse into the workings of politics in Nevada and Washington during these tumultuous decades in the nation's history.Author Michael Vernetti served as Cannon's press secretary from 1977 until the end of Cannon's fourth and final term. His intimacy with the inner workings of Cannon's office gives this biography rich insight into Cannon's personality and ideas, and further insights derived from dozens of interviews with Cannon associates further enhance the story.