Sen. Robert Byrd's Seniority Passes Into Legend

Sen. Robert Byrd the most senior member of the Democratic Congressional Caucus, in both age and number of terms in office, has answered his last roll call. In point of fact, for the last several years the 92-year-old statesman, who died early Monday, failed to answer far more U.S. Senate vote counts than most citizens of any state would normally tolerate. But the voters of West Virginia returned Byrd to office nine times, and if it were possible to serve from the crypt, the voters of West Virginia would re-elect him for a 10^th six-year term.

President Barack Obama today stated that with the end of Byrd's 51 years of service, "the people of West Virginia have lost a true champion" and the "United States Senate has lost a venerable institution."

Having won every Senate election since, seemingly, the Civil War (but actually only since 1958) Byrd's seniority won him advantageous committee assignments for practicing his No. 1 service to his constituents, bringing so-called political pork back to his district. The bantam senator who started his job when Harry Truman was president, was legendary for his skill in adding language to federal financing packages, and getting them passed, that would create jobs and install federal programs in his economically challenged Appalachian state. Though the FBI Headquarters is on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., not far from the White House, it is the savvy political legacy of Robert C. Byrd that made Clarksburg, West Virginia, the home of a state-of-the-art $185 million FBI fingerprint repository since 1991.

Byrd has long been a fixture in the upper chamber for political battles ranging from the civil rights movement through the Iraq war. His official biography describes him as the "longest serving Member of Congress in the history of our great Republic." Even in frail health, Byrd was reliably available (via wheel chair) for close vote counts and historic legislation.

More Robert Byrd Coverage:

- Sen. Robert Byrd, Longest-Serving Member of Congress, Is Dead at 92
- After 51 Years of Robert Byrd, Who's Next as West Virginia's Senator?

Although cantankerous and known for holding up the body for endless history lessons on the Constitution or schooling on Byzantine Senate rules "Bobby" Byrd was in the American legislative branch as long as anyone now in office can remember -- except perhaps new seniority title holder Democrat Daniel Inouye of Hawaii. There so long his office ran on auto-pilot, the fading senator was issuing press releases on federal flood protection for his state, seemingly from his deathbed. The culture of seniority gave Byrd a comfortable perch that served his state well, but when a senator dies, the business of governing must go on. Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia will appoint a new senator to the vacancy and the state will eventually elect another public servant to the seat.

Unfortunately for the new person, the seniority and assignment perks do not convey. Whoever takes the seat will start a new clock. The late legislator's one-of-a-kind Senate hideaway office will soon be the subject of polite inquiries to the current Senate majority leader and perk boss, Harry Reid, from more senior officeholders.