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 until his record was beaten by Representative John Dingell of Michigan. Byrd is the only West Virginian to have served in both chambers of the state legislature and in both chambers of Congress.

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. On May 29, 1937, Byrd married Erma Ora James (June 12, 1917 – March 25, 2006) who was born to a coal mining family in Floyd County, Virginia. Her family moved to Raleigh County, West Virginia, where she met Byrd when they attended the same high school.

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

## 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". He died at approximately  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.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **embed**: yes
- **office1**: President pro tempore of the United States Senate
- **term start1**: January 3, 2007
- **term end1**: June 28, 2010
- **predecessor1**: Ted Stevens
- **successor1**: Daniel Inouye
- **term start2**: June 6, 2001
- **term end2**: January 3, 2003
- **predecessor2**: Strom Thurmond
- **successor2**: Ted Stevens
- **term start3**: January 3, 2001
- **term end3**: January 20, 2001
- **predecessor3**: Strom Thurmond
- **successor3**: Strom Thurmond
- **term start4**: January 3, 1989
- **term end4**: January 3, 1995
- **predecessor4**: John C. Stennis
- **successor4**: Strom Thurmond
- **office5**: President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate
- **term start5**: January 3, 2003
- **term end5**: January 3, 2007
- **predecessor5**: Strom Thurmond
- **successor5**: Ted Stevens
- **office6**: Senate Majority Leader
- **1blankname6**: Whip
- **1namedata6**: Alan Cranston
- **term start6**: January 3, 1987
- **term end6**: January 3, 1989
- **predecessor6**: Bob Dole
- **successor6**: George J. Mitchell, George Mitchell
- **term start7**: January 3, 1977
- **term end7**: January 3, 1981
- **1blankname7**: Whip
- **1namedata7**: Alan Cranston
- **predecessor7**: Mike Mansfield
- **successor7**: Howard Baker
- **office8**: Senate Minority Leader
- **1blankname8**: Whip
- **1namedata8**: Alan Cranston
- **term start8**: January 3, 1981
- **term end8**: January 3, 1987
- **predecessor8**: Howard Baker
- **successor8**: Bob Dole
- **office9**: Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus
- **term start9**: January 3, 1977
- **term end9**: January 3, 1989
- **predecessor9**: Mike Mansfield
- **successor9**: George Mitchell
- **office10**: Senate Majority Whip
- **leader10**: Mike Mansfield
- **term start10**: January 3, 1971
- **term end10**: January 3, 1977
- **predecessor10**: Ted Kennedy
- **successor10**: Alan Cranston


## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Robert Byrd
- **image**: Robert Byrd official portrait.jpg
- **caption**: Official portrait, 2003
- **jr/sr**: United States Senator
- **state**: West Virginia
- **term start**: January 3, 1959
- **term end**: June 28, 2010
- **predecessor**: Chapman Revercomb
- **successor**: Carte Goodwin
- **state11**: West Virginia
- **term start11**: January 3, 1953
- **term end11**: January 3, 1959
- **predecessor11**: E. H. Hedrick, Erland Hedrick
- **successor11**: John M. Slack Jr., John Slack
- **state senate12**: West Virginia
- **district12**: 9th
- **term start12**: December 1, 1950
- **term end12**: December 23, 1952
- **predecessor12**: Eugene Scott
- **successor12**: Jack Nuckols
- **office13**: Member of the
West Virginia House of Delegates
from Raleigh County, West Virginia, Raleigh County
- **term start13**: January 1947
- **term end13**: December 1950
- **predecessor13**: _Multi-member district_
- **successor13**: _Multi-member district_
- **birth name**: Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr.
- **birth place**: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, U.S.
- **death place**: Fairfax County, Virginia, U.S.
- **resting place**: Columbia Gardens Cemetery
Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
- **children**: 2
- **education**: Marshall University (Bachelor of Arts, BA)
American University (Juris Doctor, JD)
- **signature**: Robert C. Byrd Signature.svg