He graduated from that city's Bronx High School of Science, served in the Army Air Force from 1945 to 1947, then earned a B.S.
at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison in 1955 and went to work as an attorney.
Nager was elected to the Assembly in 1962, succeeding fellow Democrat Fred Risser, who was (successfully) seeking a seat in the State Senate.
He came in fourth in a four-way primary election whose winner was Bronson La Follette and which also included Anthony Earl, later Governor of Wisconsin.
[4] He continued to practice law in Madison, and in 2005 celebrated his 50th year as an attorney.