Robert Carlyle Byrd (born November 20, 1917) is a West Virginia Democrat serving in the United States Senate. As of 2004, he is the longest-serving member of the U.S. Congress, having served in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1953, until he entered the Senate on January 3, 1959; current Dean of the House John Dingell has only served since December 1955. At 87, Byrd is the oldest member of Congress. Some like to call Byrd a "walking encyclopedia" on the history of both the American and Roman senates.
Byrd has held the office of president pro tempore of the Senate three times, most recently from 2001 to 2003. He has served as a member of the Appropriations Committee since the 1950s and is chairman of the committee when the Democratic party is in the Senate majority.
Biography
Early life and political career
Byrd was born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in 1917. When he was 1 year old, his mother died and he was given to the custody of an aunt and an uncle, Vlurma and Titus Byrd; they raised him in the coal-mining region of southern West Virginia. Byrd graduated as valedictorian of his high school class and soon afterwards married Erma Ora, his wife today. It was twelve years before he could afford to go to college. He eventually attended Beckley College , Concord College, Morris Harvey College, and Marshall College, all in West Virginia. He worked as a gas-station attendant, grocery-store clerk, shipyard welder, and butcher before he won a seat in the state legislature in 1946. Byrd was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1947 to 1950. He was a member of the West Virginia Senate from 1951 to 1952. Since that first bid for office, Byrd has never lost an election. He graduated from American University's Washington College of Law in 1963. He has two daughters, Mona and Marjorie, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Participation in the Ku Klux Klan
Byrd was a local leader of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) for a period of time in the early 1940s, holding the title "Kleagle," which indicated a Klan recruiter. In 1945, controversy was raging over the idea of racially integrating the military. In his book When Jim Crow Met John Bull [1], Graham Smith referred to a letter written that year by Byrd to racist Senator Theodore Bilbo of Mississippi, in which Byrd vowed never to fight, "with a Negro by my side. Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds." [2] In a 1946 letter, he wrote, "The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia." However, when running for Congress in 1952, he announced, "After about a year, I became disinterested, quit paying my dues, and dropped my membership in the organization. During the nine years that have followed, I have never been interested in the Klan."
Since then, Byrd has often referred to his Klan membership as a mistake of his youth, less often as a moral outrage. As recently as 1997, he told an interviewer he'd encourage young people to become involved in politics, but with this warning: "Be sure you avoid the Ku Klux Klan. Don't get that albatross around your neck. Once you've made that mistake, you inhibit your operations in the political arena."
As a result of this 50-year-old affiliation, Byrd is often maligned by his critics with the moniker, Robert "Sheets" Byrd.
U.S. House of Representatives
He was elected to the United States House of Representatives, as a representative from West Virginia's sixth congressional district, in 1953, serving there until 1959, when he officially became a senator.
U.S. Senate
He was first elected to the Senate in 1958 and has held the position ever since.
In 1964, he opposed the Civil Rights Act by setting the Senate record for filibuster, stalling it for 14 straight hours. He was against U.S. President Harry S. Truman's integration of the military. He opposed the nomination of Thurgood Marshall to the United States Supreme Court in 1967–he wrote to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, asking if there was information about Marshall's ties to Communists. Byrd led the segregationist members of the Senate in opposition to Marshall's nomination.
In 1965, the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program was created by Congress as a federally funded, state-administered program. It awards $1,500 a year to graduating high school seniors who continue on to higher education on the basis of academic merit.
In 1968, Byrd said: "Martin Luther King fled the scene. He took to his heels and disappeared, leaving it to others to cope with the destructive forces he had helped to unleash. And I hope that well-meaning negro leaders and individuals in the negro community in Washington will now take a new look at this man who gets other people into trouble and then takes off like a scared rabbit." 1
Byrd's pursuit of federal dollars for West Virginia, the nation’s second poorest state (behind only Mississippi) has been remarkably effective over the course of his long career. When he became the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee in the 101st Congress (after six years as Senate majority leader and another six years as minority leader), he sought to steer, over time, a total of $1 billion for public works to West Virginia; he had exceeded the goal two years later, and the steady streams of funds for highways, dams, educational institutions, and federal agency offices has progressed unabated. More than thirty pending or existing federal projects bear Byrd's name.
"Favorite son" presidential candidate
In 1976, Byrd, at the time the Senate majority whip , announced that he would run for president as a "favorite son" candidate, only campaigning in his home state of West Virginia. Like many Democrats, Byrd thought that perhaps if the convention were deadlocked, he could use his delegates to hold some influence in the selection of a nominee.
Every other Democrat but George Wallace stayed off the West Virginia ballot in deference to Byrd, and even Wallace didn't campaign in the state. Byrd won by a near 9-1 margin. However, he was never a serious candidate for the nomination, and Byrd had set his sights instead on the position of Senate majority leader, after the retirement of Montana's Mike Mansfield. Byrd focused most of his time on campaigning for the office of majority leader, more so than for re-election to the Senate, as he was unopposed for his fourth term. By the time the vote for majority leader was at hand, he had it so wrapped up that his lone rival, Minnesota's Hubert Humphrey, withdrew before the balloting took place.
He was a strong critic of Bill Clinton throughout his presidency. Byrd was initially a force in demanding that the impeachment proceedings against Clinton be taken seriously and conducted completely, harshly criticizing Democratic and White House attempts to make light of it, but in the end it was his motion to dismiss the charges against the president which brought about the end of what was left of the House prosecutors’ case.
Recent Racial Controversies
Some conservatives contend that Byrd's opposition to President George H. W. Bush's nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991 to replace Thurgood Marshall -- making Byrd the only senator to have opposed the nomination of both of the only two black Supreme Court justices – and Byrd's 2004 opposition to some of George W. Bush's judicial and cabinet nominees who are black, notably appeals court nominee Janice Rogers Brown and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was motivated by racism. The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a civil rights organization, has stated that Byrd's hold on Rice's nomination was "racist." [1]. Byrd has not opposed other people of color that Bush has nominated in the past, voting for Secretary of Education Rod Paige and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
2001 Racial Remark and Controversy
On March 4, 2001, an interview with FOX News Sunday host Tony Snow was aired. In the interview Byrd was asked about race relations: "They are much, much better than they've ever been in my lifetime," Byrd said. "I think we talk about race too much. I think those problems are largely behind us ... . I just think we talk so much about it that we help to create somewhat of an illusion. I think we try to have good will. My old mom told me, 'Robert, you can't go to heaven if you hate anybody.' We practice that." Then Byrd warned: "There are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time; I'm going to use that word."
"We just need to work together to make our country a better country, and I'd just as soon quit talking about it so much."
Byrd later issued an apology: "I apologize for the characterization I used on this program. The phrase dates back to my boyhood and has no place in today's society. As for my language, I had no intention of casting aspersions on anyone of another race."
Opposition to war in Iraq
In the 107th Congress, Bryd suffered some legislative defeats, particularly with respect to debates on homeland security. Byrd opposed the 2002 law creating the Homeland Security Department, saying it ceded too much authority to the executive branch. He led the opposition against granting President George W. Bush broad power to wage a "preemptive" war against Iraq, but he could not get even a majority of his own party to vote against the war. He also led the opposition to Bush's bid to win back the power to negotiate trade deals that Congress cannot amend, and he lost overwhelmingly. But, in the 108th Congress, Byrd won his party's top seat on the new Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, positioning himself to use the subcommittee as a forum for oversight of the executive.
Byrd was one of the Senate's most outspoken critics of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the Bush Doctrine's support of unilateralism and preemptive warfare.
On March 19, 2003, when President George W. Bush ordered the invasion after receiving U.S. Congress approval, Byrd stated:
- Today I weep for my country. I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned. Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination.
Byrd also criticized Bush for his speech declaring the "end of major combat operations" in Iraq, which Bush made on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. Byrd stated on the Senate floor:
- I do question the motives of a deskbound president who assumes the garb of a warrior for the purposes of a speech.
On October 17, 2003, Byrd delivered a now-famous speech, expressing his concerns about the future of the nation and his unequivocal antipathy to the policies of President Bush. Referencing the Hans Christian Andersen children's tale The Emperor's New Clothes, Byrd said of the president: "the emperor has no clothes." Byrd further lamented the "sheep-like" behavior of the "cowed Members of this Senate" and called on them to oppose the continuation of a "war based on falsehoods."
Byrd condemned what he saw as the stifling of dissent and the marginalization of the legislature:
The right to ask questions, debate, and dissent is under attack. The drums of war are beaten ever louder in an attempt to drown out those who speak of our predicament in stark terms.
Even in the Senate, our history and tradition of being the world's greatest deliberative body is being snubbed. This huge spending bill — $87 billion — has been rushed through this chamber in just one month. There were just three open hearings by the Senate Appropriations Committee on $87 billion — $87 for every minute since Jesus Christ was born — $87 billion without a single outside witness called to challenge the administration's line.
The senator ended his speech in a provocative fashion by repeating a famous quote from the Nuremberg Diary by G. M. Gilbert . In the following passage, Gilbert is interviewing Nazi war criminal Herman Goering:
We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.
. . . But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.
There is one difference. . . . In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.
Oh, that is all well and good, but voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them that they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for a lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.
Byrd vigorously pursues a role of guardian of the Senate's powers and precedents, and has positioned himself as a leading historian of the institution and a master of its rules and procedures.
Byrd is currently called the "Father of the Senate" — the senator with the longest continuous service. As the longest-serving Democratic senator, he has held the office of president pro tempore of the Senate three times, most recently from 2001-2003. He has served as a member of the Appropriations Committee since the 1950s and is chairman of the committee when the Democratic party is in the Senate majority. In May 2001, West Virginia Governor Bob Wise and both Houses of the West Virginia Legislature named Byrd "West Virginian of the 20th Century," which Byrd considered the greatest honor of his career.
As the 110th Congress began, Byrd was beginning his sixth decade in the Capitol and his forty-seventh year as a senator. If he completes his eighth term, he will surpass Strom Thurmond as the longest-serving senator in U.S. history. If he wins reelection in 2006—a near certainty if he decides to run—he will be on course to surpass Arizona's Carl T. Hayden as the longest-serving member of Congress in the fall of 2009.
Byrd has a cameo role as a Confederate general in the Warner Brothers film Gods and Generals (2003).
In July 2004, Byrd released the book Losing America: Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant Presidency about the Bush presidency and the war in Iraq.
Voting record
Though a former party leader, Byrd is one of the most independent members of the Democratic caucus. Byrd sees himself as placing the prerogatives of the Senate and the needs of West Virginia before the interests of the Democratic party. Among Byrd's conservative positions were opposing President Clinton's efforts in 1993 to allow gays to serve in the military, affirmative action, and abortion rights. Like most members of his caucus, however, Byrd opposes the tax cuts implemented by President George W. Bush and is expected to vote against Bush's forthcoming Social Security reform proposal.
Political timeline
Robert C. Byrd placenames
- Robert C. Byrd Drive, from Beckley to Sophia (Byrd's hometown)
- Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia University, Morgantown
- Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Labratory of West Virginia University, Morgantown
- Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi
- Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, Princeton
- Robert C. Byrd Bridge, between Huntington and Chesapeake, Ohio
- Robert C. Byrd Addition to the Lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling
- Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove
- Robert C. Byrd Expressway, U.S. 52, near Weirton
- Robert C. Byrd Institute, Charleston
- Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing; Huntington, Charleston, Bridgeport & Short Gap
- Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park , Harpers Ferry
- Robert C. Byrd Federal Building & Courthouse, Charleston
- Robert C. Byrd Federal Building & Courthouse, Beckley
- Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center at Marshall University, Huntington
- Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center at Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling
- Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center
- Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex, Short Gap (near Keyser)
- Robert C. Byrd Library & Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center at Mountain State University, Beckley
- Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center at Marshall University, Huntington
- Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to Veteran's Hospital, Huntington
- Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Moorefield
- Robert C. Byrd Locks & Dam, Gallipolis Ferry
- Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, Green Bank
- Robert C. Byrd Science and Technology Center at Shepherd College , Shepherdstown
- Robert C. Byrd High School, Clarksburg
- Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center at Marshall University, Huntington
- Robert C. Byrd Conference Center at Davis & Elkins College , Elkins
- Robert C. Byrd Health and Wellness Center of Bethany College, Bethany
- Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center, Bridgeport
- Robert C. Byrd Appalachian Highway System
- (For Byrd's Wife) Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling
External links
|- style="text-align: center;" | width="30%" |Preceded by:
William C. Revercomb | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" |U.S. Senator (Class 1) from West Virginia
1959- | width="30%" |Succeeded by:
Incumbent
|- style="text-align: center;" | width="30%" |Preceded by:
Mike Mansfield | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" |Senate Majority Leader
1977-1981 | width="30%" |Succeeded by:
Howard Baker
|- style="text-align: center;" | width="30%" |Preceded by:
Howard Baker | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" |Senate Minority Leader
1981-1987 | width="30%" |Succeeded by:
Bob Dole
|- style="text-align: center;" | width="30%" |Preceded by:
Bob Dole | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" |Senate Majority Leader
1987-1989 | width="30%" |Succeeded by:
George Mitchell
Last updated: 08-28-2005 13:22:30
