Robert Byrd

Robert C. Byrd
Official portrait of Senator Byrd, circa 2003.
United States Senator from West Virginia
In office January 3, 1959 – June 28, 2010
Preceded by	W. Chapman Revercomb
Succeeded by	TBD
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	John C. Stennis
Succeeded by	Strom Thurmond
In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001
Preceded by	Strom Thurmond
Succeeded by	Strom Thurmond
In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Strom Thurmond
Succeeded by	Ted Stevens
In office January 3, 2007 – June 28, 2010
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Daniel Inouye
13th and 16th United States Senate Majority Leader
In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1981
Deputy	Alan Cranston
Preceded by	Mike Mansfield (D)
Succeeded by	Howard Baker (R)
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989
Deputy	Alan Cranston
Preceded by	Bob Dole (R)
Succeeded by	George Mitchell (D)
16th United States Senate Minority Leader
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987
Deputy	Alan Cranston
Preceded by	Howard Baker (R)
Succeeded by	Bob Dole (R)
16th United States Senate Majority Whip
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977
Leader	Mike Mansfield (D)
Preceded by	Ted Kennedy (D)
Succeeded by	Alan Cranston (D)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia's 6th district
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1959
Preceded by	E.H. Hedrick
Succeeded by	John M. Slack, Jr.
Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	John Stennis
Succeeded by	Mark Hatfield
In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Ted Stevens
In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Ted Stevens
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Thad Cochran
Succeeded by	Daniel Inouye
Born	November 20, 1917(1917-11-20) North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Died	June 28, 2010 (aged 92) Falls Church, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Erma Ora Byrd (m. 1937–2006; her death)
Children	Mona Byrd Fatemi Marjorie Byrd Moore
Residence	Sophia, West Virginia
Alma mater	Marshall University American University – Washington College of Law
Profession	Politician, Attorney
Religion	American Baptist Church
Signature
Website	U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd

Robert Carlyle Byrd (born November 20, 1917 North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, United States - died June 28, 2010) was dean of the United States Senate until 2010. Byrd, a democrat from West Virginia, was elected in 1958 and serving since January 1959. He served as majority leader from 1977 to 1981 and again from 1987 to 1989. He was also minority leader from 1981 to 1987. 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 is 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. Robert Byrd became the longest serving Senator in United States history on June 12, 2006, after serving 17,327 days. Byrd died in 2010 at age 92.