WHAT YOU NEED NOW - CONTENT UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY

Candidate Profile: Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) Senior Senator
 
[Image: us-sen-robt-c-byrd.jpg (6493 bytes)]Born in 1917 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Robert Byrd was left a virtual orphan by the death of his mother when he was only one year old. Brought to West Virginia by his aunt and uncle to be reared as their own, the future Senator grew up in various communities in the bituminous coalfields, mastering life's early lessons and learning its duties as a miner's son, and graduating as valedictorian of his high school class in the depths of the Great Depression in the 1930's.
 
Unable at the time to afford college tuition, Byrd sought employment wherever he found an opportunity – pumping gas at a filling station, working as a produce salesman, and then becoming a meat cutter – picking up new skills as he advanced.
 
One of those skills – welding – was in demand after World War II started, and he worked during the war years building "Liberty" and "Victory" ships in the construction yards of Baltimore, Maryland, and Tampa, Florida.
 
At war's end, he returned to West Virginia with a new vision of what his home state and his country could be. In 1946, he made his first run for political office, and was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates.

"The final chapter in Robert Byrd's history is not likely to be written for some time, yet it is safe to say that he has set a standard as a Senator, as a legislative leader, and as a statesman that will stand among the best as long as there is a Senate." – Former Senator Bob Dole, R-Kansas

After two terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates, Byrd was elected to the West Virginia Senate; then to the United States House of Representatives for three terms; and finally, in 1958, to the United States Senate, where he has represented West Virginia continuously since, winning re-election again and again by record margins in statewide elections. He has served longer in the United States Senate than has anyone else in West Virginia's history, an indication of the confidence, faith, and trust that the people of his home state have regarding him.
 
In addition to fulfilling his Senate responsibilities, he earned his law degree (J.D.), cum laude, from American University in Washington, D.C., in 1963 after ten years of study in night classes in law school. This marked the first time in history that a sitting member of either House of the Congress has accomplished the feat of beginning and completing the courses of study leading to a law degree while serving in Congress. Byrd was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, summa cum laude, by Marshall University in 1994.

President John F. Kennedy awards Senator Byrd his law degree (1963)
President John F. Kennedy awards Senator Byrd his law degree (1963)

Continuing his upward trajectory, Senator Byrd became a member of the Senate Leadership in 1967, when he was selected by his colleagues as Secretary of the Democratic Conference. In 1971, he was chosen Senate Democratic Whip. In 1977, he was elected Democratic Leader by his Democratic colleagues, a position he held for six consecutive terms. For the 12 years he held the position of Democratic Leader – from January 1977 through December 1988 – Senator Byrd served as Senate Majority Leader six years (1977-80, 1987-88) and as Senate Minority Leader six years (1981-86).

"There are still those people, like Senator Byrd, who exemplify the qualities of leadership strong personal character and a sense of virtues and principles that inspire others to greatness." – Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyoming

In 1989, for the first time, Senator Byrd had the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, on which he has held membership since the beginning of 1959. Also in 1989, Senator Byrd was unanimously elected President pro tempore of the Senate, a post that placed him third in line of succession to the Presidency and gave him the distinction of having held more leadership positions in the U.S. Senate than any other Senator of any party in Senate history. In June 2001, in an unprecedented shift of leadership, Senator Byrd regained the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee and was re-elected President pro tempore of the Senate.
 
In 2000, West Virginia voters elected Senator Byrd to an eighth consecutive six-year term in the Senate, making him the only person in the history of the Republic to achieve that milestone. Senator Byrd has carried all 55 West Virginia counties three times (1970, 1994, and 2000), making him the first person to do so in contested statewide general elections. In May 2001, Senator Byrd cast his 16,000th roll call vote, giving him the distinction of casting more votes than any other Senator in history.

Senator and Mrs. Robert c. Byrd (c. 1990)
Senator and Mrs. Robert c. Byrd (c. 1990)

He is married to the former Erma Ora James, his high school sweetheart and a coal miner's daughter, and they are the parents of two daughters, Mrs. Mohammad (Mona Byrd) Fatemi and Mrs. Jon (Marjorie Byrd) Moore. Senator and Mrs. Byrd were blessed with six grandchildren – Erik, Darius, and Fredrik Fatemi; Michael (deceased), Mona, and Mary Anne Moore – and one great-granddaughter, Caroline Byrd Fatemi.
 
Year First Elected: 1958
Re-election Year: 2006
Recent Occupations: Public Official, government official
Date Of Birth: 1917
Marital Status: Married
Spouse Name: Erma Ora James
Family: 2 children
Religion: Baptist
Education: BA, Marshall University, 1994, JD, American University, 1963
 
EXPERIENCE

"When future historians are writing about the 20th century Senate, Senator Robert Byrd will surely be remembered as one of the giants who followed in the footsteps of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster." – Former Republican Senator and now Governor of Alaska Frank Murkowski

Political Experience:
Senator, United States Senate, 1958-present
Senate Majority Leader, 1977-1980, 1987-1988
Senate Minority Leader, 1981-1986
Senate Democratic Whip, 1971
United States House of Representatives, 1953-1959
Senator, West Virginia State Senate, 1951-1953
Member, West Virginia House of Delegates, 1947-1951.
 
Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees: Secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference, 1967
Congressional Fire Services Caucus
Democratic Steering and Coordination Committee
Senate National Guard Caucus
Senate Rural Health Caucus
Senate Steel Caucus
 
COMMITTEES

Robert Byrd has the distinction of having held more leadership positions in the U.S. Senate than any other Senator of any party in Senate history.
 
Source: U.S. Congressional Record, Senator Robert C. Byrd Senate web site, Wikipedia
 
HNN profiles are provided by candidates and have not been edited by HNN.

Local Advertisers


Submit Your Story to HNN!
 
Teays Valley Cinemas