and now the rest of the story;)
| Longest Serving Senators |  |
Since 1789 there have been 1,897 Americans who have served as United States Senators. Listed here are the twenty individuals who have served the longest terms as of January 3, 2008.
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Senator |
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Dates of Service |
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Length of Service |
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1. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) |
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January 3, 1959 to present |
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49 years |
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2. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) |
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December 24, 1954 to April 4, 1956 and November 7, 1956 to January 3, 2003 |
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47 years, 5.2 months |
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3. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) |
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November 7, 1962 to present |
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45 years, 2 months |
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4. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) |
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January 3, 1963-present |
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45 years |
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5. Carl T. Hayden (D-AZ) |
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March 4, 1927 to January 3, 1969 |
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41 years, 10.1 months |
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6. John C. Stennis (D-MS) |
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November 5, 1947 to January 3, 1989 |
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41 years, 2 months |
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7. Theodore F. Stevens (R-AK) |
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December 24, 1968 to present |
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39 years |
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8. Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) |
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November 9, 1966 to January 3, 2005 |
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38 years, 1.8 months |
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9. Richard B. Russell (D-GA) |
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January 12, 1933 to January 21, 1971 |
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38 years |
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10. Russell B. Long (D-LA) |
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December 31, 1948 to January 3, 1987 |
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38 years |
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11. Francis E. Warren (R-WY) |
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November 18, 1890 to March 3, 1893 and March 4, 1895 to November 24, 1929 |
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37 years |
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12. James O. Eastland (D-MS) |
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June 30, 1941 to September 28, 1941 and January 3, 1943 to December 27, 1978 |
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36 years, 3 months |
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13. Warren Magnuson (D-WA) |
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December 14, 1944 to January 2, 1981 |
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36 years |
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14. Claiborne Pell (D-RI) |
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January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1997 |
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36 years |
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15. Kenneth McKellar (D-TN) |
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March 4, 1917 to January 2, 1953 |
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35 years, 10 months |
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16. Milton Young (R-ND) |
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March 12, 1945 to January 2, 1981 |
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35 years, 9 months |
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17. Ellison D. Smith (D-SC) |
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March 4, 1909 to November 17, 1944 |
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35 years, 8 months |
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18. Allen J. Ellender (D-LA) |
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January 3, 1937 to July 27, 1972 |
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35 years, 7 months |
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19. William B. Allison (R-IA) |
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March 4, 1873 to August 4, 1908 |
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35 years, 5 months |
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20. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) |
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January 3, 1973 to present |
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35 years |
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20. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) |
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January 3, 1973 to present |
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35 years |