Editing Robert Byrd (section)

===Gerald Ford era===
On November 22, 1974, the Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously to recommend the nomination of [[Nelson Rockefeller]] as [[Vice President of the United States]] to the full Senate. Byrd admitted that he had preferred sending the nomination with no recommendation but was worried the act would apply prejudice to the nominee.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/11/23/archives/senate-panel-90-backs-rockefeller-for-confirmation-byrd-and-allen.html|title=SENATE PANEL,9-0, BACKS ROCKEFELLER FORCONFIRMATION|date=November 23, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813213622/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/11/23/archives/senate-panel-90-backs-rockefeller-for-confirmation-byrd-and-allen.html|archive-date=August 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 1975, after President Ford requested $300 million in additional military aid for [[South Vietnam]] and $222 million more for the [[Khmer Republic]] from Congress, Byrd said Ford and Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]] had described the aid as "imperative" and that congressional leaders had been told [[North Vietnam]] would take over [[Ho Chi Minh City|Saigon]] "little by little" if additional ammunition and other aid were not provided by the US to Saigon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/29/archives/new-indochina-aid-is-asked-by-ford-president-formally-urges.html|title=NEW INDOCHINA AID IS ASKED BY FORD|date=January 29, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814040635/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/29/archives/new-indochina-aid-is-asked-by-ford-president-formally-urges.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In February, along with Mike Mansfield, [[Hugh Scott]], and [[Robert P. Griffin]], Byrd was one of four senators to sponsor a compromise modification of the Senate's filibuster rule where three-fifths of the total Senate membership would be adequate in invoking closure on any measure except a change in the Senate's rules.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/01/archives/leaders-in-senate-back-a-compromise-on-filibuster-rule.html|title=Leaders in Senate Back a Compromise On Filibuster Rule|date=March 1, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814040210/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/01/archives/leaders-in-senate-back-a-compromise-on-filibuster-rule.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In March, while the Senate voted on reforming its filibuster rule, [[James Allen (U.S. senator)|James B. Allen]] and other senators used their allotted time to speak at length and also force a series of votes. In response, Byrd said the group was engaging in an "exercise in futility" and that the chamber had already made up its mind.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/08/archives/filibuster-rule-reformed-by-senate-in-5627-vote-action-is-completed.html|title=Filibuster Rule Reformed By Senate in 56-27 Vote|date=March 8, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814011327/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/08/archives/filibuster-rule-reformed-by-senate-in-5627-vote-action-is-completed.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In April, after President Ford and his administration's lawyers contended that Ford had authority as president to use troops under the [[War Powers Act of 1941|War Powers Act]], Byrd and [[Thomas F. Eagleton]] objected by charging that Ford was establishing a dangerous precedent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/11/archives/embassy-in-saigon-told-to-begin-staff-reduction.html|title=Embassy in Saigon Told To Begin Staff Reduction|date=April 11, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814103806/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/11/archives/embassy-in-saigon-told-to-begin-staff-reduction.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Byrd issued a statement on the Senate floor admitting his "serious reservations" pertaining to the Ford administration's intent to bring roughly 130,000 South Vietnamese refugees to the United States, citing cultural differences and unemployment as raising "grave doubts about the wisdom of bringing any sizable number of evacuees here".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/29/archives/military-bases-in-arkansas-florida-california-to-house-refugees.html|title=Military Bases in Arkansas, Florida, California to House Refugees|date=April 29, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814043600/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/29/archives/military-bases-in-arkansas-florida-california-to-house-refugees.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In May, after President Ford appealed for Americans to support the [[Indochina refugee crisis|resettlement of 130,000 Vietnamese and Cambodians in the US]], Byrd told reporters that he believed that President Ford's request for $507 million for refugee transport and resettlement would be reduced, citing its lack of political support in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/07/archives/ford-asks-nation-to-open-its-doors-to-the-refugees-president-in-tv.html|title=FORD ASKS NATION TO OPEN ITS DOORS TO THE REFUGEES|first=David|last=Binder|date=May 7, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210452/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/07/archives/ford-asks-nation-to-open-its-doors-to-the-refugees-president-in-tv.html|archive-date=August 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In September, Byrd sponsored an amendment to the appropriations bill that if enacted would bar the education department from ordering busing to the school nearest to a pupil's home and sought to hold the Senate floor until there was an agreement among colleagues on his proposal. This failed, as the time limit for debating various proposals ran out.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/09/24/archives/senate-liberals-fail-to-shut-off-debate-on-a-measure-that-would.html|title=Senate Liberals Fail to Shut Off Debate On a Measure That Would Curb Busing|first=Richard L.|last=Madden|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 24, 1975 |access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814043359/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/09/24/archives/senate-liberals-fail-to-shut-off-debate-on-a-measure-that-would.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 10, Byrd met with President Ford for a discussion on the New York loan guarantee bill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/11/archives/cityaid-measure-gains-in-senate-top-democrats-claim-votes-to-halt.html|title=CITY-AID MEASURE GAINS IN SENATE|first=Martin|last=Tolchin|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 11, 1975 |access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814040309/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/11/archives/cityaid-measure-gains-in-senate-top-democrats-claim-votes-to-halt.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 1976, Byrd was one of five members of the Senate Select Committee to vote for a requirement that the proposed oversight committee would share Its jurisdiction with four committees that had authority over intelligence operations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/04/28/archives/panel-trims-intelligence-oversight-plan-senate-panel-trims.html|title=Panel Trims Intelligence Oversight Plan|date=April 28, 1976|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In June, after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send a bill breaking up 18 large oil companies into separate production, refining and refining‐marketing entities to the Senate floor, Byrd announced his opposition to divestiture and joined Republicans [[Hugh Scott]] and [[Charles Mathias]] in confirming their votes were to report the bill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/16/archives/oil-breakup-bill-goes-to-senate-87-committee-vote-sends-plan-to.html|title=Oil Breakup Bill Goes to Senate|first=Edward|last=Cowan|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 16, 1976 |access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814232836/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/16/archives/oil-breakup-bill-goes-to-senate-87-committee-vote-sends-plan-to.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In September, Congress overrode President Ford's veto of a $56 billion appropriations bill for social services, Ford afterward telling Byrd and House Speaker [[Carl Albert]] that he would sign two bills supported by the Democrats.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/01/archives/congress-overrides-fords-veto-of-bill-on-social-services.html|title=Congress Overrides Ford's Veto of Bill on Social Services|first=Richard D.|last=Lyons|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 1, 1976|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814040414/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/01/archives/congress-overrides-fords-veto-of-bill-on-social-services.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Byrd was elected majority leader on January 4, 1977.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/05/archives/senate-democrats-pick-byrd-as-leader-gop-elects-baker-humphrey-bows.html|title=Senate Democrats Pick Byrd as Leader; GOP Elects Baker|date=January 5, 1977|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814103847/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/05/archives/senate-democrats-pick-byrd-as-leader-gop-elects-baker-humphrey-bows.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 14, President Ford met with congressional leadership to announce his proposals for pay increases of high government officials, Byrd afterward telling reporters that the president had also stated his intent to recommend that the raises be linked to a code of conduct.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/15/archives/ford-to-ask-pay-rise-for-major-officials-congress-chiefs-say.html|title=Ford to Ask Pay Rise for Major Officials, Congress Chiefs Say|date=January 15, 1977|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814103958/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/15/archives/ford-to-ask-pay-rise-for-major-officials-congress-chiefs-say.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Days later, after the Senate established a special 15‐member committee to draw up a code of ethics for senators, Byrd told reporters that he was supportive of the measure and that it would be composed of eight Democrats and seven Republicans who would have until March 1 to issue a draft code that would then be subject to change by the full Senate.<ref name="nytimes1977">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/19/archives/15member-panel-named-to-draft-ethics-code.html|title=15-Member Panel Named To Draft Ethics Code|date=January 19, 1977|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814104829/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/19/archives/15member-panel-named-to-draft-ethics-code.html|archive-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>