Robert Byrd

Robert Carlyle Byrd (born Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr.; 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 U.S. senator in history and was the longest-serving member in the history of the whole United States Congress^[1][2][3][4] until his record was beaten by Representative John Dingell of Michigan.^[5] Byrd is the only West Virginian to have served in both chambers of the state legislature and in both chambers of Congress.^[6]

Robert Byrd
Official portrait, 2003
United States Senator from West Virginia
In office January 3, 1959 – June 28, 2010
Preceded by	Chapman Revercomb
Succeeded by	Carte Goodwin
Senate positions President pro tempore of the United States Senate In office January 3, 2007 – June 28, 2010 Preceded by Ted Stevens Succeeded by Daniel Inouye In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 Preceded by Strom Thurmond Succeeded by Ted Stevens In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 Preceded by Strom Thurmond Succeeded by Strom Thurmond In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 Preceded by John C. Stennis Succeeded by Strom Thurmond President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 Preceded by Strom Thurmond Succeeded by Ted Stevens Senate Majority Leader In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989 Whip Alan Cranston Preceded by Bob Dole Succeeded by George Mitchell In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1981 Whip Alan Cranston Preceded by Mike Mansfield Succeeded by Howard Baker Senate Minority Leader In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 Whip Alan Cranston Preceded by Howard Baker Succeeded by Bob Dole Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1989 Preceded by Mike Mansfield Succeeded by George Mitchell Senate Majority Whip In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977 Leader Mike Mansfield Preceded by Ted Kennedy Succeeded by Alan Cranston
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
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from Raleigh County
In office January 1947 – December 1950
Preceded by	Multi-member district
Succeeded by	Multi-member district
Personal details
Born	Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr. (1917-11-20)November 20, 1917 North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	June 28, 2010(2010-06-28) (aged 92) Fairfax County, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	Columbia Gardens Cemetery Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Erma James ​ ​ (m. 1936; died 2006)​
Children	2
Education	Marshall University (BA) American University (JD)
Signature

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.

Early life

Byrd was born on November 20, 1917 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.^[7] On May 29, 1937, Byrd married Erma Ora James (June 12, 1917 – March 25, 2006)^[8] who was born to a coal mining family in Floyd County, Virginia.^[9] Her family moved to Raleigh County, West Virginia, where she met Byrd when they attended the same high school.^[10]

Robert Byrd had two daughters (Mona Byrd Fatemi and Marjorie Byrd Moore), six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.^[7]

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

On June 27, 2010, it was reported that Byrd had been admitted to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax County, Virginia, earlier that weekend; while he was first admitted for suspected heat exhaustion, "more serious issues" emerged and he was said to be "seriously ill".^[11][12] He died at approximately 3 a.m. EDT the next day at age 92 from natural causes. At the time of his death in office, he was the last living U.S. senator who assumed office in the 1950s.^[11]