Byrd, 92, dies after 50 years in US Senate
Source: Agencies |
June 29, 2010, Tuesday
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ROBERT Byrd, who rose from an impoverished childhood to become the longest-serving senator in United States history, died yesterday. He was 92.
Byrd, a Democrat, held his seat for more than 50 years, including six years as Senate majority leader. At the time of his death, he was third in line to the presidency.
A family spokesman, Jesse Jacobs, said Byrd died peacefully at a hospital in a suburb outside Washington. He had been there since last week. Byrd had been in frail health for several years.
Byrd's politics evolved over his career. As a young man, he was a member of the racist Ku Klux Klan for a brief period, and he fought against landmark civil rights legislation in 1964. He later apologized for both actions, saying intolerance had no place in America.
He was an early supporter of the Vietnam War, yet was one of the Senate's strongest voices against the Iraq war at a time when many Democrats backed it. He felt gratified when public opinion swung behind him.
"The people are becoming more and more aware that we were hoodwinked, that the leaders of this country misrepresented or exaggerated the necessity for invading Iraq," Byrd said.
His death followed less than a year after the passing of Edward Kennedy, another leading Democrat who had served in the Senate for decades.
And it comes as the Senate deals with two of President Barack Obama's top priorities: completing passage of financial overhaul legislation and confirming his nominee to the US Supreme Court, Elena Kagan.
Neither is likely to be derailed by Byrd's death, though delays are possible. West Virginia's Democratic governor, Joe Manchin, will appoint Byrd's replacement, so the party's strong majority should not be affected. An election will be held to fill the rest of Byrd's term, which was to end in January 2013.
Byrd was a fiery orator versed in the classics and a hard-charging power broker who steered billions of federal dollars to his home state.
Byrd, a Democrat, held his seat for more than 50 years, including six years as Senate majority leader. At the time of his death, he was third in line to the presidency.
A family spokesman, Jesse Jacobs, said Byrd died peacefully at a hospital in a suburb outside Washington. He had been there since last week. Byrd had been in frail health for several years.
Byrd's politics evolved over his career. As a young man, he was a member of the racist Ku Klux Klan for a brief period, and he fought against landmark civil rights legislation in 1964. He later apologized for both actions, saying intolerance had no place in America.
He was an early supporter of the Vietnam War, yet was one of the Senate's strongest voices against the Iraq war at a time when many Democrats backed it. He felt gratified when public opinion swung behind him.
"The people are becoming more and more aware that we were hoodwinked, that the leaders of this country misrepresented or exaggerated the necessity for invading Iraq," Byrd said.
His death followed less than a year after the passing of Edward Kennedy, another leading Democrat who had served in the Senate for decades.
And it comes as the Senate deals with two of President Barack Obama's top priorities: completing passage of financial overhaul legislation and confirming his nominee to the US Supreme Court, Elena Kagan.
Neither is likely to be derailed by Byrd's death, though delays are possible. West Virginia's Democratic governor, Joe Manchin, will appoint Byrd's replacement, so the party's strong majority should not be affected. An election will be held to fill the rest of Byrd's term, which was to end in January 2013.
Byrd was a fiery orator versed in the classics and a hard-charging power broker who steered billions of federal dollars to his home state.
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