Robert Byrd - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Byrd
86th President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office January 3, 2007 – June 28, 2010
President	Dick Cheney Joe Biden
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Daniel Inouye
In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
President	Dick Cheney
Preceded by	Strom Thurmond
Succeeded by	Ted Stevens
In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001
President	Al Gore
Preceded by	Strom Thurmond
Succeeded by	Strom Thurmond
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995
President	George H.W. Bush Dan Quayle Al Gore
Preceded by	John C. Stennis
Succeeded by	Strom Thurmond
2nd President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007
President	Dick Cheney
Preceded by	Strom Thurmond
Succeeded by	Ted Stevens
Senate Majority Leader
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989
Deputy	Alan Cranston
Preceded by	Bob Dole
Succeeded by	George Mitchell
In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1981
Deputy	Alan Cranston
Preceded by	Mike Mansfield
Succeeded by	Howard Baker
Senate Minority Leader
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987
Deputy	Alan Cranston
Preceded by	Howard Baker
Succeeded by	Bob Dole
Senate Majority Whip
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977
Leader	Mike Mansfield
Preceded by	Ted Kennedy
Succeeded by	Alan Cranston
United States Senator from West Virginia
In office January 3, 1959 – June 28, 2010
Preceded by	Chapman Revercomb
Succeeded by	Carte Goodwin
Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Thad Cochran
Succeeded by	Daniel Inouye
In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Ted Stevens
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	John C. Stennis
Succeeded by	Mark Hatfield
Secretary of Senate Democratic Conference
In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1971
Leader	Mike Mansfield
Preceded by	George Smathers
Succeeded by	Ted Moss
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
Personal details
Born	Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr. (1917-11-20)November 20, 1917 North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, US
Died	June 28, 2010(2010-06-28) (aged 92) Merrifield, Virginia, US
Resting place	Columbia Gardens Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Erma James (m. 1936; died 2006)
Children	2
Education	Beckley College Concord University University of Charleston Marshall University (BA) George Washington University American University (JD)
Signature

Robert Carlyle Byrd (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 Senator in United States History.^[1] 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[change | change source]

Byrd was born on November 20, 1917 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.^[2] He was married to Erma James from 1937 until her death in 2006. They had two children.

Political career[change | change source]

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[change | change source]

Byrd died on June 28, 2010 in Falls Church, Virginia from problems caused by heat exhaustion, aged 92.^[3]

References[change | change source]