Robert Byrd: U.S. Senator 1959-2010 (20 images)

Senator Robert Byrd D-West Virginia looking pensive March 6, 1982 before introducing legislation which would bar President Reagan from sending American troops to El Salvador. (UPI Photo/Tim Clary)

Senate Democratic leader Robert Byrd, of West Virginia, wearing glasses, talks on the phone to Sen. Alan Cranston, D-Calif., on December 11, 1984 in Washington about the Democratic race for Byrd’s position. Byrd is being challenged by Sen. Lawton Chiles of Florida. Democrats will vote on December 12. (UPI Photo/Ron Bennett/Files)

A bipartisan group of Senate leaders, in search of an alternative to President Reagan's budget plan, agreed March 16, 1982 that everything, including the sacrosanct defense, tax and "entitlement" programs, was open to negotiation. L-R are Senator Edward Kennedy D-Massachusetts, Senator David Boren D-Oklahoma and Senator Robert Byrd D-West VIrginia. (UPI/File)

Led by Democratic leader Robert Byrd D-West Virginia (center-seated), Senate Democrats (L-R seated) Lloyd Bentsen, Texas, Byrd, Gaylord Nelson, Wisconsin and (L-R standing) Max Baucus, Montana, Pat (Patrick) Leahy, Vermont, Donald Riegle, Michigan and Jim Sasser, Tennessee moved to prevent Republicans from pushing President Reagan's 10% across-the-board tax cut through the Senate June 26, 1980. (UPI Photo/Ron Bennett)