• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • US set to ease AIDS-era blood donation rules for gay men
  • Learning From COVID: Early Detection, Isolation, and Elimination Beats More Defensive Responses As Global Strategy for Future Pandemics
  • Phew! Truck-sized asteroid misses Earth

Senator Robert Byrd, Longest-Serving Congressman, Dead at 92

Andy Towle June 28, 2010

Senator Robert Byrd, the longest-serving member of Congress in history, is dead at 92

Byrd  The NYT: "Mr. Byrd served 51 years in the Senate, longer than anyone in American history, and with his six years in the House, he was the longest-serving member of Congress. He held a number of Senate offices, including majority and minority leader and president pro tem.

But the post that gave him the most satisfaction was chairman of the Appropriations Committee, with its power of the purse — a post he gave up only last year as his health declined. A New Deal Democrat, Mr. Byrd used the position in large part to battle persistent poverty in West Virginia, which he called “one of the rock bottomest of states.”

Also:

Mr. Byrd’s political life could be traced to his early involvement with the Ku Klux Klan, an association that almost thwarted his career and clouded it intermittently for years afterward.

In the early 1940s, he organized a 150-member klavern, or chapter, of the Klan in Sophia, W.Va., and was chosen its leader at a meeting. After the meeting, Joel L. Baskin, the Klan’s grand dragon for the region, suggested that Mr. Byrd use his “talents for leadership” by going into politics.

“Suddenly, lights flashed in my mind!” Mr. Byrd later wrote. “Someone important had recognized my abilities.”

Mr. Byrd insisted that his klavern had never conducted white-supremacist marches or engaged in racial violence. He said in his autobiography that he had joined the Klan because he shared its anti-Communist creed and wanted to be associated with the leading people in his part of West Virginia. He conceded, however, that he also “reflected the fears and prejudices” of the time.

In more recent weeks, Byrd in May announced he would vote "yes" on a compromise bill toward repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", but only if there a was a 60-day review period added to it that would allow Congress to approve its language and intent.

Said Byrd: “This period of time will allow the Congress, along with the American people, to thoroughly review the proposed policy recommendations to ensure that these changes are consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention for our Armed Forces. With these changes, I will support the amendment expected to be offered by Senator Lieberman to the Department of Defense Authorization bill.”

In May 2008, Byrd wept openly on the Senate floor after news that his close friend and colleague, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, had suffered a seizure brought on by a malignant brain tumor.

The WaPo: "Mr. Byrd had been hospitalized last week with what was thought to be heat exhaustion, but more serious issues were discovered, aides said Sunday. No formal cause of death was given."

Topics: Drag, History, News More Posts About: News, Robert Byrd, West Virginia, West Virginia

Related Posts
  • US Senate poised to pass Biden’s cornerstone climate and health bill
  • Biden pledge to tax wealthy, companies revived with Manchin-led bill
  • Russia Blocks Facebook, Accusing it of Restricting Access to Russian Media;
  • Learning From COVID:  Early Detection, Isolation, and Elimination Beats More Defensive Responses  As  Global Strategy for Future Pandemics

    Learning From COVID: Early Detection, Isolation, and Elimination Beats More Defensive Responses As Global Strategy for Future Pandemics

    Imagine it is 2030. Doctors in a regional hospital in country X note an expanding cluster of individuals with severe respiratory disease. Rapid whole-genome sequencing identifies the disease-causing agent as a novel coronavirus. Epidemiological investigations suggest …Read More »
  • Phew! Truck-sized asteroid misses Earth

    Phew! Truck-sized asteroid misses Earth

    Published by AFP Small asteroid to pass close by Earth Los Angeles (AFP) – Bruce Willis: you can stand down. A truck-sized asteroid that suddenly loomed out of the darkness a few days ago — with …Read More »
  • ‘Trump fatigue’ in New Hampshire complicates 2024 White House bid

    ‘Trump fatigue’ in New Hampshire complicates 2024 White House bid

    Published by Reuters By Tim Reid WEARE, New Hampshire (Reuters) – When Donald Trump trounced his Republican rivals in New Hampshire’s 2016 primary, the stunning win announced to other states the reality TV showman was a …Read More »
  • Monica Bellucci ‘scared’ to play Maria Callas on stage

    Monica Bellucci ‘scared’ to play Maria Callas on stage

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Monica Bellucci felt “scared” about making her stage debut playing opera legend Maria Callas in a one-woman show. The ‘ Spectre’ star portrays the soprano in the play ‘Letters and Memoirs’ …Read More »
Previous Post: « News: Elena Kagan, iPhone, Lady Gaga, BP Oil Spill
Next Post: Video, Photos: Stanley Cup Shines in Chicago Gay Pride Parade »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • Madison Square Garden’s facial recognition blacklisting sparks outcry

    Madison Square Garden’s facial recognition blacklisting sparks outcry

  • Over half of LGBTQ parents surveyed in Florida considered leaving state over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

    Over half of LGBTQ parents surveyed in Florida considered leaving state over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

  • Watch: George Santos closes door on reporters asking about amended FEC report

    Watch: George Santos closes door on reporters asking about amended FEC report

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • Steamy! Miranda Lambert Shows Off Shirtless Husband Brendan McLoughlin To Celebrate Their Anniversary

    Steamy! Miranda Lambert Shows Off Shirtless Husband Brendan McLoughlin To Celebrate Their Anniversary

  • ‘Sister Wives’ Alum Leon Brown Debuts Gender-Affirming Top Surgery Seven Months After Announcing New Pronouns

    ‘Sister Wives’ Alum Leon Brown Debuts Gender-Affirming Top Surgery Seven Months After Announcing New Pronouns

  • ‘Unfollowing Now’: Rebel Wilson Faces Backlash For Attending Lavish Hotel Opening In Dubai As Critics Address Anti-LGBT Laws

    ‘Unfollowing Now’: Rebel Wilson Faces Backlash For Attending Lavish Hotel Opening In Dubai As Critics Address Anti-LGBT Laws

RSS Partner Links

  • WATCH: Bowen Yang shares with Seth Meyers the struggles of impersonating George Santos on SNL
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar Reacts to Fan Theory 'Wolf Pack' & 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' are Connected
  • “Taylor Swift directs Taylor Swift for the ‘Lavender Haze’ music video” links
  • ‘Spare’: Prince Harry told his family about Meghan’s pregnancy at Eugenie’s wedding
  • Alan Cumming Returned His OBE To The Palace Because He Doesn’t Want To Be Associated With “The Toxicity Of Empire”
  • Pamela Anderson Defends Tim Allen And Talks About Walking In On Jack Nicholson Having A Threesome
  • Prince Andrew Has Reportedly Been Kicked Out Of His Office And Palace Apartment

Most Recent

  • US set to ease AIDS-era blood donation rules for gay men

    US set to ease AIDS-era blood donation rules for gay men

  • Learning From COVID:  Early Detection, Isolation, and Elimination Beats More Defensive Responses  As  Global Strategy for Future Pandemics

    Learning From COVID: Early Detection, Isolation, and Elimination Beats More Defensive Responses As Global Strategy for Future Pandemics

  • Phew! Truck-sized asteroid misses Earth

    Phew! Truck-sized asteroid misses Earth

  • ‘Trump fatigue’ in New Hampshire complicates 2024 White House bid

    ‘Trump fatigue’ in New Hampshire complicates 2024 White House bid

  • Monica Bellucci ‘scared’ to play Maria Callas on stage

    Monica Bellucci ‘scared’ to play Maria Callas on stage

  • ‘You’re An Embarrassment’: Kimberly Guilfoyle Gets Backlash For Making Fun Of The FBI’s Skills When Raiding President Joe Biden’s Home For Documents

    ‘You’re An Embarrassment’: Kimberly Guilfoyle Gets Backlash For Making Fun Of The FBI’s Skills When Raiding President Joe Biden’s Home For Documents

  • Tyre Nichols death: Memphis braces for protests when police video is released

    Tyre Nichols death: Memphis braces for protests when police video is released

  • Stevie Nicks Announces 2023 Tour Dates

    Stevie Nicks Announces 2023 Tour Dates

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×