West Virginia Produces Dynamic, Strong Senators. Joe Manchin is no Different. He is the Leading Power in Brokering Important Deals that May Result in significant Change in America. 

 This article is Dedicated to Elizabeth - "Liz", in Stonewood

Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1952. In 1958 Byrd was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served until his death. His current term would have expired in 2012. He began adulthood as a Southern segregationist and even joined the Ku Klux Klan, but gave up his membership after election to Congress. As Senate pro tempore, Byrd was third in line for the presidency. He will be remembered as a powerful force in the Senate, a champion of education and particularly civics, and as Washington, DC’s “King of Pork.”

 

Service in the U.S. Senate

 

Robert Byrd cherished the ideals of the Senate. He was known for carrying a copy of the Constitution. After becoming the Majority Leader for the Democrats in 1976, he worked to end the post-cloture filibuster, a Senate rule allowing members to add amendments before cloture. Under Senate rules, each amendment could be debated for 100 hours. Byrd, with the help of then Vice President Walter Mondale, ended the practice by having the amendments ruled out of order.

 

Byrd supported prayer and Bible reading in public schools. After the 1963 Supreme Court ruling in School District of Abington Township v Schempp, Byrd declared that, “somebody is tampering with America’s soul.” This was at the same time Byrd finished studies at American University in Washington, D.C. where he earned a J.D., graduating cum laude. In 1964, he voted against the Civil Rights Act.

 

After the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Senator Byrd, speaking on the Senate floor March 19, 2003 asked, “What is happening to this country?...When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinaire approach to using our awesome military might?” Of himself, Byrd once said, “I do claim to be a Christian. I believe that way, and I believe we ought to observe the Ten Commandments.” (October 9, 2004)

 

The King of Pork

 

Senator Byrd’s position on the Senate Appropriations Committee enabled him to funnel massive amounts of revenue to West Virginia. Citizens Against Government Waste, a watchdog organization, writes that, “Since 1991, West Virginia has received $2.95 billion in pork.” “Pork barrel politics” refers to the practice of Congressional members earmarking revenue for their states or congressional districts.

 

Byrd had raised $5 million during the current cycle, 2005 – 2010 but spent most of it. As of March 21, 2010, his campaign only had $8,109 cash on hand, perhaps an indication that Byrd might not have stood for reelection in 2012.

 

The Legacy of Senator Robert Byrd

 

Robert Byrd authored numerous books during his long career and the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, a national merit-based college scholarship begun in 1985, was named for him. As a public servant for most of his adult life, Byrd exhibited the integrity learned from early childhood. Born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina in 1917 and orphaned at the age of one, he worked during World War II on Liberty Ships. He pumped gas and sold produce. Robert Byrd never forgot his humble beginnings.

Copyright owned by Michael Streich. Any reproductions require written permission.

This article was written upon the death of Senator Byrd June 27,2010