Editing Robert Byrd (section)

==== 1980 presidential election ====
In July 1979, Senators [[Henry M. Jackson]] and George McGovern made comments expressing doubt on President Carter being assured as the Democratic nominee in the [[1980 United States presidential election|1980 presidential election]]. When asked about their comments by a reporter, Byrd referred to Jackson and McGovern as "two very strong voices and not at all to be considered men who have little background in politics" but stated it was too early to participate in "writing the political obituary of the President at this point". Byrd added that the powers of the presidency made it possible that Carter could have a comeback and cited the events in November and December as being telling of his prospects of achieving higher popularity.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/29/archives/byrd-says-its-too-soon-to-count-out-president.html|title=Byrd Says It's Too Soon To Count Out President|date=July 29, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919095928/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/29/archives/byrd-says-its-too-soon-to-count-out-president.html|archive-date=September 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 10, 1980, Byrd called for President Carter to debate Senator [[Ted Kennedy]], who he complimented as having done a service for the US by raising key issues in his [[Ted Kennedy 1980 presidential campaign|presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/05/11/archives/byrd-urges-president-to-face-kennedy-in-a-debate.html|title=Byrd Urges President to Face Kennedy in a Debate|date=May 10, 1980|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817023039/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/05/11/archives/byrd-urges-president-to-face-kennedy-in-a-debate.html|archive-date=August 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 2, Byrd advocated for an open [[1980 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] where the delegates were not bound to a single candidate. The endorsement was seen as a break from President Carter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/03/archives/byrd-says-he-backs-open-convention-assails-libyan-case-judgment-of.html|title=BYRD SAYS HE BACKS 'OPEN' CONVENTION; ASSAILS LIBYAN CASE; JUDGMENT OF CARTER FAULTED Senator Calls Moves 'Amateurish' but Expects President to Win Democratic Nomination Response From the White House Criticism of Libya Matter More Messages Released BYRD SAYS HE BACKS 'OPEN' CONVENTION|date=August 3, 1980|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816230633/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/03/archives/byrd-says-he-backs-open-convention-assails-libyan-case-judgment-of.html|archive-date=August 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
In September, Byrd said that Republican presidential nominee [[Ronald Reagan]] had made comments on the [[Iran–Iraq War]] that were a disservice to the United States and that he was exercising "reckless political posturing" in foreign policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/09/28/archives/byrd-accuses-reagan-of-reckless-posturing-on-war-the-wrong-signal.html|title=Byrd Accuses Reagan of 'Reckless Posturing' on War; 'The Wrong Signal'|date=September 28, 1980|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817023138/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/09/28/archives/byrd-accuses-reagan-of-reckless-posturing-on-war-the-wrong-signal.html|archive-date=August 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>