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A
Gathering of Speakers is being presented in the spirit of past Channel
5 productions, ‘A Gathering of Governors’ and ‘A Gathering
of Gamblers’. This time, eight of Nevada’s former and current
Speakers of the Assembly were gathered together in one room for an historic
evening of legislative memories and political debate.
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| Front
row from left to right: Lawrence Jacobsen, Joe Dini, and Mel Close.
Rear row from left to right: Bob Barengo, Bill Bilyeu, Speaker Richard
Perkins, and Lynn Hettrick. |
Current
Speaker Richard Perkins, joined former Speakers Mel Close (1967), Lawrence
Jacobsen (1971), Bob Barengo (1981), Bill Bilyeu (1985) Lynn Hettrick (1985),
and Joe Dini ( 1977 and 1987-1999) in the Channel 5 studios. A pre-taped
interview with Speaker Bill Swackhamer brought him into the conversation
on such topics as taxes, lobbyists and their role, and the power of the
Speaker of the House. “I
was known for instituting a strict dress code, barring mini skirts and
women’s pantsuits” Jacobsen told the group. “A few of
the women in that session asked me what would happen if they wore them,
but none ever actually tried it.”
“I’m fond of the fact that a journalist once characterized
me as being too affluent to be bribed and too hard headed to be threatened.”
Added Bil Bilyeu, who served as a freshman in 1983, and as speaker in
1985 and then left politics.
Anecdotes on being at the podium the day Ronald Reagan was shot, and on
how Howard Hughes played a role in the funding and placement of the University’s
Medical school were told, as were stories on hallway politicking and the
wielding of political influence.
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