History: This Is Why Las Vegas McCarran International Airport Was Renamed In 2021 (2024)

Located five miles (8 km) south of downtown Las Vegas, its International Airport covers 2,800 acres (11 km2) of land. It has four runways and two terminals.

The first iteration of LAS was built on an airfield once known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. At the beginning of the 1940s, the airport was named McCarran Field after Senator Pat McCarran, and it became the primary commercial airport in Las Vegas.

Over the years, it underwent expansions and innovations, and in December 2021, the airport was renamed in honor of Democratic US Senate majority leader Harry Reid.

Who was Senator Pat McCarran?

Patrick Anthony McCarran was a Democratic politician born in Reno, Nevada 1876. He played a significant role in shaping legislation related to early commercial aviation, sponsoring laws such as the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 and the Federal Airport Act of 1945. He advocated separating the United States Army Air Forces into an independent Air Force, initiating legislation in 1933.

He also helped the aviation industry by funding to buy land and build the first Las Vegas Field terminal. That's why, in 1941, in recognition of his efforts, the airfield was named after him.

Photo:Harris and Ewing, photographers. 1947 | Wikimedia Commons

Although a Democrat, McCarran was critical of President Roosevelt's interventionist policies in Europe, particularly his support for aiding countries like the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. McCarran favored the war effort just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. His anti-communist sentiments influenced his views, particularly from Pope Pius XI's encyclical.

He opposed assisting, especially the Soviet Union, whom he deemed "godless communists," believing it was immoral and against American interests. In a speech on the Senate floor, McCarran declared that he despised both Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin but regarded the Third Reich as the lesser evil and felt it was, therefore, profoundly wrong for the United States to aid the Soviet Union.

McCarran was a leading anti-Communist in the Senate. He earned the nickname "Senator from Madrid" for his support of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and his efforts to increase aid to Spain.

Photo:Harris & Ewing Collection | Wikimedia Commons

In 1950, McCarran sponsored the McCarran Internal Security Act, requiring Communist organizations to register with the Attorney General and establishing the Subversive Activities Control Board to investigate communist subversion. The act allowed the government to detain individuals deemed spies or subversives without trial during a national emergency.

President Truman vetoed it, citing concerns about civil liberties, but Congress overrode the veto. The Federal Bureau of Prisons built six camps for this purpose, but they were not used once since no national emergency was ever declared, and they were shut down in 1957. The McCarran Internal Security Act's principal provisions were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1965 and 1967.

The two reasons behind name change

At the beginning of 2021, Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom pushed for a name change for McCarran International Airport.

McCarran was criticized for his legacy of racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia since he imposed restrictive immigration policies that limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust.

The renaming so had to reflect Nevada's diverse population and aimed to celebrate former US Senator Harry Reid's contributions to the state.

Photo:RYO Alexandre | Shutterstock

The proposal came amid Black History Month, and after previous failed attempts, the movement for the name change gained momentum, reflecting broader trends in removing racially or culturally offensive names and symbols.

So, on December 14th, 2021, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport was officially renamed Harry Reid International Airport following unanimous approval by the Clark County Commission, just two weeks before the ex-Senator's death. Reid, who served in the Senate from 1987 to 2017, played a significant role in Las Vegas airport expansion projects and securing funding for aviation infrastructure during his political career.

Various speakers praised Reid's efforts in securing funding and support for airport projects, emphasizing his crucial role in the facility's growth. Despite his absence due to health reasons, Reid expressed gratitude for the honor in a statement released by his family.

Woke culture

In recent years, many places, such as schools, buildings, and squares, have been renamed to disown certain personalities linked to racism, colonialism, and crimes against humanity.

This culture, referred to as 'Woke,' originated many years ago in the United States in the 1940s and refers to an awareness of social injustice, particularly racism. However, today, often due to excessive instrumentalization by both supporters and denigrators, the term has become a polarizing symbol in today's culture war.

Photo:Boston Public Library Tichnor Brothers collection | Wikimedia Commons

Supporters argue that this practice acknowledges past wrongs to achieve 'historical justice.' On the other hand, critics of this practice often argue that erasing history (rather than addressing it, according to changing popular opinions) lacks ethical consistency. This is not the aviation industry's first involvement in these ideological clashes. And it certainly won't be the last.

Should aviation be left out of these cultural frictions or not? Let us know in the comments below.