Senator Howard Cannon of Nevada: A Biography

Howard Cannon, who represented Nevada in the U.S. Senate from 1958 to 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 most underappreciated senators. 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. This is a biography of a brilliant man whose dedication and integrity were ultimately undercut by his stubborn reticence and characteristic modesty. The book is also a revealing glimpse into the workings of politics in Nevada and Washington during these tumultuous decades in the nation’s history.