West Virginia Senator Plays Confederate General in Film
Nov. 23, 2001--Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia is the latest politician to take on a cameo role in "Gods and Generals," the Ron Maxwell movie currently filming near Keedysville, Maryland. Unlike his colleague Phill Gramm, who had to play a Virginia politician, Byrd will be portraying Confederate Gen. Paul Semmes of Georgia.
Byrd was attired in a beard and mustache along with a general's hat, gray greatcoat and saber. He said he had no objections to playing the role of a Georgian.
"You see, I'm a history buff. And anything I can do to preserve history for future generations, I want to do it," he told the Hagerstown Herald-Mail.
Maxwell has said he invited Byrd and other political figures to appear in the film because they could provide valuable publicity for both the film and for Maxwell's interest in saving Civil War battlefields.
The shot in which Byrd took part depicts the preparation for the Battle of Fredericksburg. Waiting nearby were Robert Duvall, who is playing Gen. Robert E. Lee, and Stephen Lang as "Stonewall" Jackson.
In the segment involving Byrd, the Confederate command meets around a table to discuss options. The fact that the battle actually took place in the dead of winter forced a brief halt in filming as the crew waited for the last of the leaves to fall from the trees.
Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski made an appearance at the movie shoot, taking advantage of Byrd's appearance in her state to present him with congratulations on reaching his 84th birthday.
The film crew surprised Byrd with a birthday cake in the shape of West Virginia after the shoot, said Vic Heutschy, publicist for the production crew. Maxwell also gave him a replica of a Civil War cannon as a gift.
"I won't soon forget this," said Byrd.
Filming is expected to be completed by Dec. 13 and the Warner Bros. production is set for release in early 2003.