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In 2021, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport. The airport had been named after Senator Pat McCarran since 1948 due to his vocal advocacy for the aviation industry. However, McCarran had a legacy of racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia, and imposed restrictive immigration policies that limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust. The name change aimed to celebrate former US Senator Harry Reid's contributions to the state and reflect Nevada's diverse population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Previous name | McCarran International Airport |
| New name | Harry Reid International Airport |
| Previous namesake | Patrick Anthony McCarran |
| New namesake | Harry Reid |
| Reason for change | McCarran's legacy of racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia |
| Year of change | 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
- Senator Pat McCarran's legacy was criticised for racism, antisemitism and xenophobia
- McCarran's immigration policies limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust
- The name change aimed to celebrate former US Senator Harry Reid's contributions
- Reid served in the US Senate for 30 years, including eight as Democratic majority leader
- The expenses for the name change were covered by private donations
Senator Pat McCarran's legacy was criticised for racism, antisemitism and xenophobia
Senator Pat McCarran was a Democratic politician from Nevada who served in the United States Senate from 1933 to 1954. McCarran was born in Reno, Nevada, and graduated as the valedictorian of his class at Reno High School. He attended university but left to work on his family's ranch. He later studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1905. McCarran's legislative career included campaigns for women's suffrage and workers' rights. He also played a significant role in shaping aviation legislation, sponsoring laws such as the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1934 (or 1938, according to another source) and the Federal Airport Act of 1945. In recognition of his efforts in aviation, the airfield in Las Vegas was named after him in 1941.
However, McCarran's legacy has also been criticised for racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia. He was known for his virulent strain of antisemitism, which included opposing the appointment of Jewish justices and blocking many of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's nominees. McCarran's antisemitism also influenced his views on immigration; he actively opposed efforts to allow survivors of the Holocaust to come to the United States and imposed restrictive immigration policies that limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust. In addition to his antisemitism, McCarran was also criticised for his racist and xenophobic comments and actions. He was involved with Senator Joseph McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover during the anti-communist hysteria of the Cold War era, and his namesake McCarran Act required communist groups to register with the government and facilitated investigations into purported communist activity.
In 2020, amidst a controversy over a statue of McCarran in Washington, the Pat McCarran Airport was renamed Harry Reid Airport following public outcry over his past antisemitic and racist remarks and actions. The movement to remove McCarran's name from the airport gained momentum during Black History Month in 2021, reflecting a broader societal push to remove "historically offensive" names. The name change aimed to celebrate former US Senator Harry Reid and reflect Nevada's diverse population. Despite the renaming of the airport, McCarran's likeness remains in the US Capitol's National Statuary Hall, where his controversial legacy continues to be debated.
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McCarran's immigration policies limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust
The Las Vegas McCarran International Airport was renamed in 2021 to honour former US Senator Harry Reid and his contributions to the state. The push to rename the airport was also influenced by Senator Pat McCarran's controversial legacy, including his racist, anti-Semitic, and xenophobic views, which were reflected in his restrictive immigration policies.
McCarran's immigration policies, rooted in his racist and anti-Semitic beliefs, directly limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust. Before World War II, the United States had no designated refugee policy and maintained strict immigration quotas based on ""national origins". The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, privileged immigrants from northern and western Europe, while severely limiting the immigration of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution.
In the late 1930s, as the Nazi threat became more imminent, the State Department temporarily eased immigration quotas, approving visas for about 7,000 German refugees in 1936 and over 20,000 in 1938. However, public opinion polls showed that a majority of Americans opposed admitting large numbers of Jewish refugees, with an 82% opposition rate in 1938 and 72% in 1938 saying "no" to allowing more Jewish exiles from Germany.
Despite the growing urgency of the Holocaust, the US government maintained its restrictive immigration policies, and the State Department even cautioned consular officials to carefully screen applicants, believing that Jewish refugees could be used to send spies abroad. In 1941, the State Department issued a "relatives rule," denying visas to immigrants with close family still in Nazi territory, further limiting the options for Jewish refugees.
The US government's refusal to increase immigration quotas or revise discriminatory policies had devastating consequences, with hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees unable to escape Nazi-occupied territories and ultimately perishing in the Holocaust. Even after the war, the United States was slow to act, and it was not until 1950 that Congress amended the Displaced Persons Act, authorizing visas specifically for displaced persons, including Jewish refugees, and removing discriminatory geographical and chronological limits.
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The name change aimed to celebrate former US Senator Harry Reid's contributions
The name change of McCarran International Airport to Harry Reid International Airport aimed to celebrate former US Senator Harry Reid's contributions. The airport, which serves the Las Vegas Valley, was previously named after Senator Pat McCarran, a Democrat from Nevada. McCarran played a significant role in shaping aviation legislation and funding the first Las Vegas Field terminal. However, his legacy has been criticised for racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia, particularly regarding restrictive immigration policies that limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust.
The push to rename the airport came in 2021, amid Black History Month, with Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom leading the effort. The name change aimed to celebrate Senator Harry Reid, who served in the US Senate for 30 years, including eight years as Democratic Majority Leader. He was the longest-serving senator in Nevada's history when he retired in 2017. The new name reflects Nevada's diverse population and recognises Reid's contributions to the state.
Senator Pat McCarran's legacy has been controversial due to his restrictive immigration policies and accounts of racism and antisemitism during his time in public office. McCarran was a powerful member of Congress, serving as a US Senator from Nevada for over two decades and influencing aviation policy. He authored the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1934 (or 1938, according to another source) and the Federal Airport Act of 1945, which helped develop a nationwide network of public airports.
The name change to Harry Reid International Airport aimed to honour Senator Reid while removing McCarran's controversial legacy. The expenses for changing signage and other materials were covered by private donations, ensuring no expense to Clark County taxpayers. The airport's social media accounts were also updated to reflect the new name.
While some supported the name change, others suggested alternative names such as "Las Vegas International Airport" or "Sin City International," as they believed that naming the airport after a person was problematic. Some criticised both McCarran and Reid, noting that while McCarran was problematic, Reid was not without controversy.
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Reid served in the US Senate for 30 years, including eight as Democratic majority leader
Harry Mason Reid Jr. was an American lawyer and politician who served in the US Senate for 30 years, from 1987 to 2017. He was the Senate Majority Leader from 2007 to 2015, serving eight of those years as Democratic majority leader. He led the Senate Democratic Caucus from 2005 to 2017. Before his time in the Senate, Reid served as the 25th lieutenant governor of Nevada from 1971 to 1975. He also served as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission from 1977 to 1981.
Reid helped pass major legislation during the Obama administration, including the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In 2013, under his leadership, the Senate Democratic majority controversially eliminated the 60-vote requirement to end a filibuster for presidential nominations.
In 2021, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport was renamed after Harry Reid, honouring his contributions to the state of Nevada. The name change also aimed to remove the legacy of Senator Pat McCarran, who the airport was originally named after. McCarran was criticised for his racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia, particularly for his restrictive immigration policies that limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust.
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The expenses for the name change were covered by private donations
The former McCarran International Airport was renamed in December 2021 to Harry Reid International Airport. The name change was done to honour former US Senator Harry Reid's contributions to the state of Nevada and to remove the legacy of Senator Pat McCarran, who the airport was originally named after. McCarran's legacy has been criticised for being racist, antisemitic, and xenophobic, particularly due to his imposition of restrictive immigration policies that limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust.
The airport has a history dating back to the 1920s, with the first iteration of the airport being built on an airfield known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. Over the years, the airport has undergone expansions and innovations, becoming the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley, a metropolitan area in Nevada. It covers 2,800 acres of land and has four runways and two terminals.
The name change reflects a societal push to remove historically offensive names, with the new name celebrating Harry Reid's contributions to the state. Reid served in the US Senate for 30 years, including eight years as Democratic majority leader from 2007 to 2015, and he was the longest-serving senator in Nevada's history when he retired in 2017.
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Frequently asked questions
McCarran Airport was renamed to remove Senator Pat McCarran's controversial legacy of racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia. The new name, Harry Reid International Airport, celebrates former US Senator Harry Reid and his contributions to the state of Nevada.
The airport was officially renamed in December 2021.
The airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport.
