University of Virginia Library

Holds Key Positions

Although he served an
uneventful three terms in
Washington with the House of
Representatives, in the last few
years he has held key
subcommittee positions in the
Senate. His middle-of-the-road
policies have placed him in a
position to wield authority on
both sides of the political
fence.

"I consider myself a
pragmatist, "Byrd said with
a smile, a gesture one rarely
receives from the serious
statesman. "I think everyone
considers himself in the best
light. The problem comes in
seeing ourselves as others see
us. I think of myself as a
centrist," he paused, "a
middle-of-the-road pragmatist
not a doctrinal liberal, but a
middle-of-the-road political
philosopher whom I hope has
his feet on the ground."