Robert Byrd represented West Virginia in the U.S. Senate between 1959 and 2010. Byrd died on June 28, 2010 at the age of 92 after several years of frail health. Byrd was the longest serving senator in U.S. history.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100628/ap_on_go_co/us_obit_byrd Washington Post: Robert Byrd, Oldest Senator, Hospitalized (May 18, 2009)

On November 18, 2009, Byrd became the longest-serving lawmaker in congressional history, at 56 years and 320 days, outlasting Carl Hayden a Democratic congressman from Arizona who served from 1912 to 1969. He had also served more terms and been elected to more leadership positions than any senator in history.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100628/ap_on_go_co/us_obit_byrd

When he was 24, he joined the Ku Klux Klan, which he now says he regrets saying "I know now I was wrong. Intolerance had no place in America. I apologized a thousand times ... and I don't mind apologizing over and over again. I can't erase what happened." His first elected position was in 1952 as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and he has remained in service ever since, making him the longest-serving member of the U.S. Congress.

On May 19, 2008, Byrd announced his support for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama. Many saw this as significant, given Byrd's past affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan. Byrd is a superdelegate to the Democratic Party's national convention. He issued the following statement of support:

"After a great deal of thought, consideration and prayer over the situation in Iraq, I have decided that, as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, I will cast my vote for Senator Barack Obama for president. Both Senators Clinton and Obama are extraordinary individuals, whose integrity, honor, love for this country and strong belief in our Constitution I deeply respect."

"I believe that Barack Obama is a shining young statesman, who possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from this costly misadventure in Iraq, and to lead our nation at this challenging time in history."

"Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support."

For the third time in 2008, Byrd was hospitalized on June 2, 2008, after a caretaker noticed lethargy and a fever. Byrd's condition was not considered serious but he remained in a Washington DC area hospital for observation.

Byrd was hospitalized twice in March 2008, once for a reaction to antibiotics and another after a fall at his home.

On November 7, 2008, Byrd announced that he was stepping down from the Chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee.Bloomberg: Byrd to Step Down as Chairman of Senate Appropriations Panel (November 7, 2008) He will be replaced by Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.CBS News: Reid Reshuffles Committee Heads (December 15, 2008)

Senator Byrd had to be removed from the Congressional luncheon that followed the January 20, 2009, inauguration of the 44th U.S. President, Barack Obama.Washington Post: Byrd, Kennedy Leave Luncheon for Medical Reasons (January 20, 2009) His office later reported that the Senator was fine.Reuters: Sen. Kennedy collapses at Obama inaugural lunch (January 20, 2009)

Byrd's friend and colleague, Edward Kennedy, suffered a seizure during the same luncheon event.Boston.com: Kennedy apparently collapses at luncheon (January 20, 2009)