Byrd joined the Klan to get votes, later left when it was clear such affiliation would cost him votes. Always the opportunist always the professional politician.
I always ask the Byrd-dites here in WV when they start waxing nostalgically about all the federal money Byrd brought in, “ Name one thing he did that’s still around that doesn’t require a government subsidy (state or federal) to continue?” . So far no one can tell me of anything. I really want to know. Some of the things he did I support, for example he kept Green Bank alive & got it rebuilt after it collapsed due to metal fatigue. Now it’s at the forefront of cutting edge radio astronomy - Gravity Waves. I’ve been told by more then one senior political player here (both sides!) that Byrd and his staff didn’t care how the money was spent. They just wanted it spent. I’ll assume Green Bank was a happy acident.
>>Byrd joined the Klan to get votes, later left when it was clear such affiliation would cost him votes
He wasn’t just a member to flash a card as a candidate. He was a recruiter and had risen to the rank of Kleagle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleagle