paying tribute to a dear american and dear friend. in a statement, he wrote, if harry said he would do something, he did it. if he gave you his word, you could bank on it. that's how he got things done for the good of the country for decades. biden cited a number of reid's accomplishments including passing the affordable care act in the wake of the legislation. and nbc's chris clackum has more on his legislation. >> but the highlight at least for me. >> reporter: harry reid was known as a tenacious fighter even before becoming a senator. growing up in poverty, his toughness shined as a scrappy boxer. and later, a u.s. capitol police officer. he got his political strife in nevada politics, serving on the state's gaming commission in the late '70s and early '80s. then climbed on to the national political stage in 1983, serving two terms in the house and for the next 30 years, as u.s.