Editing Robert Byrd (section)

==Health issues and death==

Byrd had an [[essential tremor]]; he eventually used a wheelchair for mobility.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,454491,00.html | magazine=Time | title=Lionized in Winter | date=May 29, 2003 | access-date=June 8, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016030132/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,454491,00.html | archive-date=October 16, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/us/politics/24byrd.html | work=The New York Times | first=Mark | last=Leibovich | title=Despite Fragile Health, Byrd Is Present for Votes | date=December 24, 2009 | access-date=February 12, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318203848/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/us/politics/24byrd.html | archive-date=March 18, 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> His health declined through 2008, including several hospital admissions.<ref>{{cite news | title=Sen. Robert Byrd, 90, admitted to hospital | work=CNN | url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/26/byrd.hospitalization/index.html | date=February 26, 2008 | access-date=February 27, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227045452/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/26/byrd.hospitalization/index.html | archive-date=February 27, 2008 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>
J. Taylor Rushing, On June 2, the television network [[MSNBC]] reported that Byrd had once again been admitted to the hospital suffering from lethargy and a fever.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070630203240/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/byrd-sent-back-to-hospital-2008-03-05.html "Byrd sent back to hospital"], ''The Hill'', March 5, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Spokesman says Sen. Robert C. Byrd hospitalized |publisher=Yahoo | date=June 2, 2008 | url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_go_co/byrd_hospitalized | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605224938/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_go_co/byrd_hospitalized | archive-date=June 5, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=After third hospital stay, Byrd back to business |newspaper=The Hill|date=June 18, 2008 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/after-third-hospital-stay-byrd-back-to-business-2008-06-18.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624044543/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/after-third-hospital-stay-byrd-back-to-business-2008-06-18.html |archive-date=June 24, 2008 }}</ref> ''[[The New Yorker]]'' reported in 2020 that Byrd was "widely known" to be ''[[non compos mentis]]'' during the final years of his career.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Mayer |first1=Jane |title=Dianne Feinstein's Missteps Raise a Painful Age Question Among Senate Democrats |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/dianne-feinsteins-missteps-raise-a-painful-age-question-among-senate-democrats |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |access-date=October 5, 2023 |date=December 9, 2020}}</ref>

On January 20, 2009, Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] suffered a seizure during Barack Obama's [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|inaugural luncheon]] and was taken away in an ambulance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Developing: Sens. Kennedy And Byrd Leave Luncheon For Medical Reasons|first=Julie|last=Farby|publisher=All Headline News|date=January 20, 2009|url=http://allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013776986|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123023958/http://allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013776986|archive-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref> Byrd, seated at the same table, became distraught and was himself removed to his office. Byrd's office reported that he was fine.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kennedy stricken at Obama luncheon|publisher=MSNBC|agency=Associated Press|date=January 20, 2009|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28755439|access-date=June 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911123346/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28755439/|archive-date=September 11, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 18, Byrd was admitted to the hospital after experiencing a fever due to a "minor infection",<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Robert Byrd Hospitalized| work=The Washington Independent|date=May 18, 2009|url=https://washingtonindependent.com/43407/sen-robert-byrd-hospitalized/}}</ref> prolonged by a [[staphylococcus aureus]] infection.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Byrd develops staph infection|work=[[Herald-Dispatch]]|date=June 1, 2009|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/x2076849009/Sen-Byrd-develops-staph-infection-in-hospital|access-date=June 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717043714/http://www.herald-dispatch.com/x2076849009/Sen-Byrd-develops-staph-infection-in-hospital|archive-date=July 17, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Byrd was released on June 30, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/30/sen-byrd-released-from-hospital/ |title=Sen. Byrd released from hospital |publisher=Politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com |date=June 30, 2009 |access-date=June 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805041107/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/30/sen-byrd-released-from-hospital/ |archive-date=August 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On June 27, 2010, it was reported that Byrd had been admitted to [[Inova Fairfax Hospital]] in [[Fairfax County, Virginia]], earlier that weekend; while he was first admitted for suspected [[heat exhaustion]], "more serious issues" emerged and he was said to be "seriously ill".<ref name = Holley>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062801241.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd dead at 92|author=Holley, Joe|date=June 2010|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126015409/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062801241.html|archive-date=January 26, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i_TovTUQfssK2HZXeVQt17uCt4YgD9GJPRM82 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630094032/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i_TovTUQfssK2HZXeVQt17uCt4YgD9GJPRM82 |archive-date=June 30, 2010 |title=The Associated Press: Longtime Sen. Byrd in hospital, seriously ill |access-date=June 28, 2010}}</ref> He died at approximately {{Nowrap|3 a.m.}} [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]] the next day at age 92 from [[natural causes]]. At the time of his death in office, he was the last living U.S. senator who assumed office in the 1950s.<ref name = Holley/>

[[File:Senator Byrd funeral service.jpg|thumb|250px|left|United States President [[Barack Obama]], Vice President [[Joe Biden]], former President [[Bill Clinton]], [[West Virginia Governor]] [[Joe Manchin]] and members of Congress attended the memorial service for Byrd at the State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2010.]]

Vice President [[Joe Biden]] recalled Byrd's standing in the rain with him as Biden buried his daughter when Biden had just been elected to the Senate. He called Byrd "a tough, compassionate, and outspoken leader and dedicated above all else to making life better for the people of the Mountain State".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/transcript-remarks-vice-president-biden-passing-senator-robert-c-byrd |title=Transcript: Remarks by Vice President Biden on the Passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd |date=June 28, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216153507/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/transcript-remarks-vice-president-biden-passing-senator-robert-c-byrd |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] said, "His profound passion for that body and its role and responsibilities was as evident behind closed doors as it was in the stemwinders he peppered with history. He held the deepest respect of members of both parties, and he was generous with his time and advice, something I appreciated greatly as a young senator".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/statement-president-passing-senator-byrd |title=Statement of the President on the Passing of Senator Byrd |date=June 28, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216171907/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/statement-president-passing-senator-byrd |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Senator [[Jay Rockefeller]], who had served with Byrd since 1985, said, "I looked up to him, I fought next to him, and I am deeply saddened that he is gone".<ref>{{cite web |title=West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd dead at 92 |url=http://ktar.com/?nid=516&sid=1309367 |date=June 28, 2010 |work=KTAR.com |access-date=June 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703203402/http://ktar.com/?nid=516&sid=1309367 |archive-date=July 3, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Former president [[Jimmy Carter]] noted, "He was my closest and most valuable adviser while I served as president. I respected him and attempted in every way to remain in his good graces. He was a giant among legislators, and was courageous in espousing controversial issues".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1zEJosXC31GmogjlZOq4d_MPuRAD9GKCRJ80 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702034100/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1zEJosXC31GmogjlZOq4d_MPuRAD9GKCRJ80 |archive-date=July 2, 2010 |title=Testimonials to Sen. Robert C. Byrd |date=June 28, 2010 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

On July 1, 2010, Byrd [[lay in repose]] on the [[Lincoln Catafalque]] in the Senate chamber of the [[United States Capitol]], becoming the first senator to do so since 1957. He was then flown to [[Charleston, West Virginia]], where he lay in repose in the Lower Rotunda of the [[West Virginia State Capitol]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lovley|first=Erika|title=Rare Senate honor for Byrd|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/39158.html|access-date=2020-06-05|website=POLITICO|date=June 29, 2010 |language=en}}</ref>

A funeral was held on July 2, 2010, on the grounds of the State Capitol where Byrd was eulogized by President [[Barack Obama]], Vice President [[Joe Biden]], Governor [[Joe Manchin]], Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]], Senate Minority Leader [[Mitch McConnell]], Speaker of the House of Representatives [[Nancy Pelosi]], Senator Jay Rockefeller, Representative [[Nick Rahall]], [[Victoria Reggie Kennedy]], and former president [[Bill Clinton]]. After the funeral services in Charleston, his body was returned to [[Arlington County, Virginia]], for funeral services on July 6, 2010, at Memorial Baptist Church.<ref name="Byrd, wife to be reburied in W.Va">{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/07/06/Byrd-wife-to-be-reburied-in-WVa/UPI-61541278431726/|title=Byrd, wife to be reburied in W.Va.|publisher=United Press International|date=July 6, 2010|access-date=July 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711000905/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/07/06/Byrd-wife-to-be-reburied-in-WVa/UPI-61541278431726/|archive-date=July 11, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> After the funeral in Arlington, Byrd was buried next to his wife Erma at [[Columbia Gardens Cemetery]] in Arlington, although family members have stated that both the senator and Mrs. Byrd will be reinterred somewhere in West Virginia once a site is determined.<ref name="Byrd, wife to be reburied in W.Va"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/97290559.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629230936/http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/97290559.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2010 |title=Wsaz.com |publisher=Wsaz.com |access-date=July 2, 2010 }}</ref>

The song "[[Take Me Home, Country Roads]]" was played at the end of the funeral in a [[Bluegrass music|bluegrass]] fashion as his casket was being carried back up the stairs and into the West Virginia State Capitol Building.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Adieus to Achievers|last=Morman|first=Robert|publisher=Author House|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4567-2755-0|page=166}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0702/Obama-eulogizes-Sen.-Robert-Byrd-under-West-Virginia-skies|title=Obama eulogizes Sen. Robert Byrd under West Virginia skies|date=2010-07-02|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=2018-01-20|issn=0882-7729|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121071503/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0702/Obama-eulogizes-Sen.-Robert-Byrd-under-West-Virginia-skies|archive-date=January 21, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 30, 2010, Congress appropriated $193,400 to be paid equally among Byrd's children and grandchildren, representing the salary he would have earned in the next fiscal year, a common practice when members of Congress die in office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_satohr3081_txt.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.rules.house.gov |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007035735/http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_satohr3081_txt.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0910/Byrds_family_will_receive_remainder_of_his_salary.html Byrd's family will receive remainder of his salary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101004020517/http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0910/Byrds_family_will_receive_remainder_of_his_salary.html |date=October 4, 2010 }}, Politico.com; accessed July 23, 2017.</ref>
[[File:Grave of Robert Carlyle Byrd (1917-2010).jpg|thumb|Grave of Byrd and his wife, Erma]]

===Reaction to death===
Multiple political figures issued statements following Byrd's death:<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-congress-byrd-reaction-idUSN2826562320100628 | work=Reuters | title=Factbox-Reaction to death of U.S. Senator Byrd | date=June 28, 2010 | access-date=July 1, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016030132/http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/06/28/usa-congress-byrd-reaction-idUSN2826562320100628 | archive-date=October 16, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]]: "It is almost impossible to imagine the United States Senate without Robert Byrd. He was not just its longest-serving member, he was its heart and soul. From my first day in the Senate, I sought out his guidance, and he was always generous with his time and his wisdom".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://observer.com/2010/06/hillary-clinton-remembers-friend-and-mentor-robert-byrd/ | newspaper=Observer.com | title=Hillary Clinton Remembers 'Friend and Mentor' Robert Byrd | date=June 28, 2010 | access-date=July 21, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611082236/https://observer.com/2010/06/hillary-clinton-remembers-friend-and-mentor-robert-byrd/ | archive-date=June 11, 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* Vice President (and thus President of the Senate) [[Joe Biden]]: "A very close friend of mine, one of my mentors, a guy who was there when I was a 29-year-old kid being sworn into the United States Senate. Shortly thereafter, a guy who stood in the rain, in the pouring rain, freezing rain outside a church as I buried my daughter and my wife before I got sworn in … We lost the dean of the United States Senate, but also the state of West Virginia lost its most fierce advocate and, as I said, I lost a dear friend".
* [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] Senator [[Chris Dodd]]: "He [Robert Byrd] never stopped growing as a public official, and was a man who learned from his mistakes. He was more than a friend and colleague. He was a mentor to me and literally hundreds of legislators with whom he served over the past five decades".
* [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Senator [[Lindsey Graham]]: "Senator Byrd was a valuable ally and worthy opponent. He will be viewed by history as one of the giants of the Senate".
* Republican Senator [[Orrin Hatch]]: "On the issues, we were frequent opponents, but he was always gracious both in victory and defeat. This is a man who earned his law degree while serving in the Senate, and who had a prodigious knowledge of ancient and modern history".
* [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]]: "He [Robert Byrd] was as much a part of the Senate as the marble busts that line its chamber and its corridors. His profound passion for that body and its role and responsibilities was as evident behind closed doors as it was in the stemwinders he peppered with history. He held the deepest respect of members of both parties, and he was generous with his time and advice, something I appreciated greatly as a young senator".
* [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Republican leader]] [[Mitch McConnell]]: "Senator Byrd combined a devotion to the U.S. Constitution with a deep learning of history to defend the interests of his state and the traditions of the Senate. We will remember him for his fighter's spirit, his abiding faith, and for the many times he recalled the Senate to its purposes".
* [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]] [[Nancy Pelosi]]: "Throughout his historic career in the House and Senate, he never stopped working to improve the lives of the people of West Virginia. While some simply bore witness to history, Senator Byrd shaped it and strove to build a brighter future for us all".
* Fellow Democratic senator from West Virginia [[Jay Rockefeller]]: "Senator Byrd came from humble beginnings in the southern coalfields, was raised by hard-working West Virginians, and triumphantly rose to the heights of power in America. But he never forgot where he came from nor who he represented, and he never abused that power for his own gain".