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CLINTON PAYS TRIBUTE TO SEN. BYRDs
July 17, 1994
Author/Byline: ERIN KELLY

President Clinton paid homage to Sen. Robert C. Byrd on Sunday night, joking about the senator’s reputation for bringing federal projects to West Virginia.

“Senator Byrd said he couldn’t support the space station unless I was willing to move the U.S. capital to West Virginia,” the president said. Pausing, he added, “I’m still considering it.”

The president spoke to about 1,000 people at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at a tribute to Byrd in honor of the West Virginia Democrat’s 35th year as a senator.

Byrd began his political career in the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1946, the year Clinton was born. Despite their age difference, Clinton said he and Byrd share the same humble country roots. “I admire Robert Byrd, and based on his own family history, I identify with him so much,” Clinton said. “If this were not a truly astounding country, Robert Byrd could not have become who he is.”

The tribute, sponsored by the non-profit West Virginia Society of Washington, D.C., raised about $200,000 toward the creation of a Robert C. Byrd Library in the senator’s home state.

The proposed library would offer scholars and the public a place to study the history and inner workings of Congress, with emphasis on the Senate and the leadership role Byrd has played, tribute spokesman Mike Fulton said.

A site for the library has not been chosen, and it is not known how much the privately funded building ultimately will cost to build, staff and maintain, Fulton said.

“It’s an ambitious project that is just in the formative stage,” said Mike Perry, chairman of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce and one of the volunteers who will raise funds for the library.

“Hopefully, this tribute will be the spark that ignites it.”

Perry said a library would be an especially fitting memorial to Byrd, who is known as the Senate’s unofficial historian and Congressional scholar. The senator has written two books on the history and traditions of the Senate.

Clinton said he has read the books cover to cover. “I did so fearing I would be given an exam,” Clinton joked.

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http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930331&slug=1693497

BYRD SOARS ON GUSTS OF RHETORIC

March 31, 1993

WASHINGTON - Robert Byrd, the crafty and theatrical chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has been at the center of the fight over President Clinton’s proposal to spend $16.3 billion to stimulate the economy this year.

As floor manager for the Clinton legislation, Byrd has confronted hostile Republicans and reluctant Democrats with moves that confirmed his reputation as a master of parliamentary finagling and oratory.

INFURIATING TACTICS

His rhetoric has entertained, but his tactics have infuriated minority Republicans who are threatening to delay Clinton’s bill with a filibuster.

Almost single-handedly, Byrd has used his detailed knowledge of the Senate rules to shepherd Clinton’s economic-stimulus package through the mine-filled territory of the Senate. Using Senate rules to do a maneuver called “filling up the amendment tree,” Byrd has all but precluded major modifications to Clinton’s $16 billion package.

“It’s been a vintage performance by the senator from West Virginia,” said Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming, the Republican whip, who is a renowned rhetorician. “I disagree with his tactics but respect his grandiloquence.”

Byrd was courted carefully by Clinton. Only last week, the two had a private meeting at the White House in which Byrd unveiled his strategy for moving Clinton’s package through the Senate. Those who were familiar with the meeting say it was Byrd’s idea to put himself on the line for the new president.