Robert Byrd
Robert Carlyle Byrd (November 20, 1917 – June 28, 2010) was a Senator of the state of West Virginia from 1959 until his death in 2010. He is the longest serving Senator in United States History.[1] He was dean of the United States Senate from 2003 to 2010. He was president pro tempore four times. He was elected to the Senate in 1958. He served as majority leader from 1977 to 1981 and again from 1987 to 1989. He was also minority leader from 1981 to 1987. He was a member of the KKK.
Robert Byrd | |
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| 86th President pro tempore of the United States Senate | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – June 28, 2010 | |
| President | Dick Cheney Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Ted Stevens |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Inouye |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 | |
| President | Dick Cheney |
| Preceded by | Strom Thurmond |
| Succeeded by | Ted Stevens |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 | |
| President | Al Gore |
| Preceded by | Strom Thurmond |
| Succeeded by | Strom Thurmond |
| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 | |
| President | George H.W. Bush Dan Quayle Al Gore |
| Preceded by | John C. Stennis |
| Succeeded by | Strom Thurmond |
| 2nd President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 | |
| President | Dick Cheney |
| Preceded by | Strom Thurmond |
| Succeeded by | Ted Stevens |
| Senate Majority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989 | |
| Deputy | Alan Cranston |
| Preceded by | Bob Dole |
| Succeeded by | George Mitchell |
| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Deputy | Alan Cranston |
| Preceded by | Mike Mansfield |
| Succeeded by | Howard Baker |
| Senate Minority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Deputy | Alan Cranston |
| Preceded by | Howard Baker |
| Succeeded by | Bob Dole |
| Senate Majority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Leader | Mike Mansfield |
| Preceded by | Ted Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Alan Cranston |
| United States Senator from West Virginia | |
| In office January 3, 1959 – June 28, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Chapman Revercomb |
| Succeeded by | Carte Goodwin |
| Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Thad Cochran |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Inouye |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Ted Stevens |
| Succeeded by | Ted Stevens |
| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | John C. Stennis |
| Succeeded by | Mark Hatfield |
| Secretary of Senate Democratic Conference | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1971 | |
| Leader | Mike Mansfield |
| Preceded by | George Smathers |
| Succeeded by | Ted Moss |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia's 6th district | |
| In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1959 | |
| Preceded by | Erland Hedrick |
| Succeeded by | John Slack |
| Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 9th district | |
| In office December 1, 1950 – December 23, 1952 | |
| Preceded by | Eugene Scott |
| Succeeded by | Jack Nuckols |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr. November 20, 1917 North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, US |
| Died | June 28, 2010 (aged 92) Merrifield, Virginia, US |
| Resting place | Columbia Gardens Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Erma James (m. 1936; died 2006) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Beckley College Concord University University of Charleston Marshall University (BA) George Washington University American University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Early life
Byrd was born on November 20, 1917 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.[2] He was married to Erma James from 1937 until her death in 2006. They had two children.
Political career
Byrd was fourth person in the state (as President pro tempore of the Senate, usually longest serving Senator from majority party) from January 1989 to January 1995, from January 3, 2001 to January 20, 2001 and again from June 2001 to January 2003 and January 2007 until his death in 2010.
After Republicans retook control of the Senate, he became the honorary President "pro tempore emeritus" In 2007, Byrd became President Pro Tempore of the Senate again. Before he was elected to the Senate he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1953 until 1959 (he is dean of all Congress).
He was a vocal opponent of President George W. Bush's war in Iraq. In January 2006 he was one of the only four (alongside Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Ken Salazar of Colorado) democratic Senators, who voted for Samuel Alito.
Death
Byrd died on June 28, 2010 in Falls Church, Virginia from problems caused by heat exhaustion, aged 92.[3]
Robert Byrd Media
Byrd's mother, Ada Mae Kirby
Senator Byrd, his wife, Erma, and dog, Trouble
Byrd and President John F. Kennedy at his 1963 American University commencement ceremony
Byrd official portrait as a congressman
Byrd early in his Senate career
Senate Majority Whip Byrd meeting with President Gerald Ford
Drawer of the Senate desk used by Democratic leaders, including Byrd
Portrait of Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV).
Byrd with Senator Ted Stevens in 2003
President pro tempore Byrd and House Speaker Dennis Hastert presided over a special joint session following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Here President Bush shakes hands with Byrd.
Speech by Senator Byrd made to U.S. Senate following the indictment of Michael Vick on federal dog fighting charges
References
- ↑ Byrd Truly the Elder Statesman
- ↑ "BYRD, Robert Carlyle, (1917–2010)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
- ↑ Holley, Joe. The Washington Post - Sen. Robert Byrd dead at 92; West Virginia lawmaker was the longest serving member of Congress in history. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062801241.html. Retrieved September 1, 2012.