Paul Laxalt

Paul Laxalt
Laxalt in 1982
General Chair of the
Republican National Committee
In office
January 28, 1983 – January 23, 1987
Serving with Frank Fahrenkopf
(National Chair)
Preceded byRichard Richards (Chair)
Succeeded byLee Atwater (Chair)
United States Senator
from Nevada
In office
December 18, 1974 – January 3, 1987
Preceded byAlan Bible
Succeeded byHarry Reid
22nd Governor of Nevada
In office
January 2, 1967 – January 4, 1971
LieutenantEdward Fike
Preceded byGrant Sawyer
Succeeded byMike O'Callaghan
23rd Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
In office
January 1, 1963 – January 2, 1967
GovernorGrant Sawyer
Preceded byMaude Frazier
Succeeded byEdward Fike
District Attorney of Ormsby County
In office
1951–1955
Preceded byRichard Waters
Succeeded byCameron McVicar Batjer
Personal details
Born
Paul Dominique Laxalt

(1922-08-02)August 2, 1922
Reno, Nevada, U.S.
DiedAugust 6, 2018(2018-08-06) (aged 96)
McLean, Virginia, U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Jackalyn Ross
(m. 1946; div. 1972)
Carol Laxalt
(m. 1975)
Children6
RelativesRobert Laxalt (brother)
Adam Laxalt (grandson)
EducationSanta Clara University (BA)
University of Denver (LLB)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1943–1946
Battles/warsWorld War II
 • Battle of Leyte

Paul Dominique Laxalt (/ˈlæksɔːlt/ LAK-sawlt; August 2, 1922 – August 6, 2018) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 22nd governor of Nevada from 1967 to 1971 and a United States senator representing Nevada from 1974 until 1987. A member of the Republican Party, he was one of Ronald Reagan's closest friends in politics. After Reagan was elected president in 1980, many in the national press referred to Laxalt as "the first friend". He was the older brother of writer Robert Laxalt and maternal grandfather of Adam Laxalt, who served as the 33rd attorney general of Nevada from 2015 to 2019.