University of Virginia Library

Achieves Great Success

As a senator, Byrd has
achieved great success in
Washington. Even his bitterest
enemies consider him a
"master politician." He is
straightforward and
hard-working. These qualities
won him the whip position in
1971.

In effect, he runs the
day-to-day operation of the
Senate. With his procedural
authority, he can sway the
direction of legislation,
especially since he regulates
debates and lobbying time on
the floor.

Furthermore, if he were to
call on those comrades whom
he has at one time "served" in
some way, he might receive

overwhelming support. He is an
acknowledged political force
in the Senate.

***

At first seemingly
unimpressive, Robert Byrd
grows on you with a
charismatic charm, as he has
grown on the people of West
Virginia for the last 27 years.
His personality, however, is not
striking. In fact his manner is
brisk and at times almost rude;
he is in a hurry, and with good
reason.

Specifically, as majority
whip, he strives to be on or
near the Senate floor at all
times. He has one of the
highest attendance records in
the Senate. Prior to his
selection as whip in 1971, he
had an amazing 95.3 per cent
attendance record, missing
only 143 out of 3056 roll calls.