A Senator's Shame ("Sheets" Byrd)

Washington Post ^ | 6/19/2005 | Eric Pianin

[T-Bird45]

In the early 1940s, a politically ambitious butcher from West Virginia named Bob Byrd recruited 150 of his friends and associates to form a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. After Byrd had collected the $10 joining fee and $3 charge for a robe and hood from every applicant, the "Grand Dragon" for the mid-Atlantic states came down to tiny Crab Orchard, W.Va., to officially organize the chapter.

As Byrd recalls now, the Klan official, Joel L. Baskin of Arlington, Va., was so impressed with the young Byrd's organizational skills that he urged him to go into politics. "The country needs young men like you in the leadership of the nation," Baskin said.

[T-Bird45]

And so began the decades-long run of "Sheets" as the prime economic force for the state of West "by God" Virginia.

[SteveMcKing]

Early 40s?

He said he did it to "fight Communism", a cause not possible until 1946 at the earliest.

[onyx]

Oh, he's penned a book! Pasadena.

[minus_273]

"Confronting the issue, Byrd went on the radio to acknowledge that he belonged to the Klan from "mid-1942 to early 1943," according to newspaper accounts. He explained that he had joined "because it offered excitement and because it was strongly opposed to communism." He said that after about a year, he quit and dropped his membership, and never was interested in the Klan again.

Byrd won the primary, but during the general election campaign, Byrd's GOP opponent uncovered a letter Byrd had handwritten to Green, the KKK Imperial Wizard, recommending a friend as a Kleagle and urging promotion of the Klan throughout the country. The letter was dated 1946 -- long after the time Byrd claimed he had lost interest in the Klan. "The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia," Byrd wrote, according to newspaper accounts of that period. Byrd makes no mention of the letter in his new book. Stunned Democratic state party officials, including then-Gov. Okey L. Patteson, urged him to drop out of the race. Byrd survived the ensuing political firestorm, won the general election and went on to serve six years in the House before winning his Senate seat in 1958. During his Senate campaign, he told a newspaper reporter that he personally felt the Klan had been incorrectly blamed for many acts committed by others." (emphasis mine)

really now? i wonder if we shoudl forward this article to some black discussion boards... this is a great recruiting tool

[kaehurowing]

Interesting how the Washington Post can write this entire article without any reference to the close ties in the South between the Ku Klux Klan and the Democratic Party. The Klan kept blacks and other undesirables away from the polls and the Democrats in office.

During Reconstruction, the Klan lynched scores of Republicans as well as blacks.

[ncountylee]

The are skilled at that.

[MJY1288]

I hope the people of West Virginia retire that old Klansman before he decides it's time to do so himself. Robert Byrd has never hidden his bigotry, it has been the mainstream Press who have sugar coated his remarks and actions simply because he has the letter "D" before his name.

Can you imagine the press doing the same for an ex Klu Klux Klan member if he had an "R" next to his name?

[Pikamax]

"Byrd said in the Dec. 11, 1945, letter -- which would not become public for 42 more years with the publication of a book on blacks in the military during World War II by author Graham Smith -- that he would never fight in the armed forces "with a Negro by my side." Byrd added that, "Rather I should die a thousand times, and see old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels"

and Obama raised money for him. GO OBAMA!

[Boazo]

Bryd in hell

[mmercier]

In Byrd's day the Klan never dreamed of establishing the level of control over blacks, Jews and catholics that the rats have achieved today.

[upchuck]

THANK YOU for linking to the Printer Friendly version of the article.

Those of us trapped in 56K dialup HELL really appreciate it!

[GloriaJane]

The Ku Klux Klan and the Red Shirts were both started by The Democratic Party, that's why they didn't mention it.

[T-Bird45]

de nada...;-)

[Mr Ramsbotham]

He described it essentially as a fraternal group of elites -- doctors, lawyers, clergy, judges and other "upstanding people" who at no time engaged in or preached violence against blacks, Jews or Catholics, who historically were targets of the Klan.

Where have I heard that before?

[sheik yerbouty]

'Oh sheet!"

[Smartass]

Grand Dragon Senator "Sheets" Byrd

 

[headstamp]

Sounds like Byrd's book will be a real pant load and he will skate as usual. I really think the Trent Lott affair was hilarious compared to this guy. If Byrd was a Republican he would of had to resign in disgrace years ago. The NAALCP would have assigned a 24 hour Rent-a-mob to him until he did.

Incredible.


Regards

[pepsionice]

The fact that the NAACP has never targeted Byrd for removal...is a total mystery. The only senator who openly was racist...and admitted such...yet they won't even attempt to go and bring this dude down.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

This state will never get rid of its pork KKKing. When he dies they'll wire him for sound and send him out on tour with Jimmy Hoffa.

[Brimack34]

Will he bring up the filibuster of the civil rights act? It is not like he changed after leaving the klan.