Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies
Dublin Core
Title
Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies
Description
The Center’s work places Congress in a historical and biographical context. We encourage historians, journalists, political scientists, and constitutional scholars to draw on the historical records of Congress and the records of individual members of the House and Senate to gain new insights into the workings of the legislative branch of government and its relationship with the Executive and Judicial branches of government under the U. S. Constitution.
The Byrd Center holds 4 congressional collections, including the papers of two members of the 89th Congress: Senator Robert C. Byrd and Congressman Harley O. Staggers, Sr.
The Byrd Center holds 4 congressional collections, including the papers of two members of the 89th Congress: Senator Robert C. Byrd and Congressman Harley O. Staggers, Sr.
Relation
Collection Items
Correspondence enlisting Senator Byrd's support
On December 1, 1964, West Virginia Senator Jennings Randolph wrote his in-state colleague, Senator Robert C. Byrd, requesting support for a bill that would provide aid to depressed areas throughout the Appalachian region. The Senate had passed a…
An Announcement from Senator Byrd
Following the passage of the Appalachian Regional Development Act in the House, Senator Robert C. Byrd issued this press release announcing his intent to “expedite action” on the release of the funds needed to support the programs. As a member of…
The Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965
After passing the Senate and House, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 into law on March 9, 1965. The act established the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), whose membership included…
Photograph of Representative John W. McCormack
Speaker of the House of Representatives, John McCormack. Image cropped from a photograph of the speaker with Congressman Harley O. Staggers, Sr. and a group of 4-H members at a breakfast on Capitol Hill.
'Probable Legislative Proposals' memo
At the start of the 89th Congress, Congressman Harley O. Staggers was provided with this 3-page memo providing a list of 34 legislative proposals that might be addressed in the 89th Congress, based on a "Congressional Quarterly" report of January 1,…
'Democratic Steering Committee House of Representatives 89th Congress' memo
This one-page memo contains the "Official Membership Roster" of the Democratic Steering Committee for the House of Representatives during the 89th Congress. Rep. Ray Madden (D-Indiana) was the Chairman and Rep. Spark Matsunaga (D-Hawaii) was the…
Smoking
Throughout his long career in Congress, Senator Robert C. Byrd penned a regular column titled Byrd's Eye View that ran in newspapers across West Virginia. The columns were one way in which the Senator shared news from Washington D.C. with…
Smoking Among Teen-Agers
In this Byrd's Eye View column, Senator Byrd informs West Virginians about the short and long-term dangers of teen smoking. Byrd also outlines public health officials' multi-faceted efforts to combat it and challenges the notion that smoking…
Social Security
In this July 9, 1965 "Byrd's Eye View" column, Senator Robert C. Byrd outlined the original parameters and historical expansions of the Social Security Act for his West Virginia constituents. The column provided context for the Senate's ongoing…
Social Security Health Care Programs for the Aged
Following the passage of the Social Security Act Amendments, Senator Byrd penned this column detailing two new insurance plans established as part of Medicaid. Each benefited Americans aged sixty five and over. Part A, the "Basic Hospital Insurance…