Byrd, burd, Robert Carlyle (1917-...), a Democrat from West Virginia, has been a member of the United States Senate since 1959, longer than any other person. Byrd has served in several leadership posts in the Senate. He was Senate majority leader from 1977 to 1981 and again from 1987 to 1989. From 1981 to 1987, Byrd served as minority leader of the Senate. He was the Democratic whip (assistant leader) from 1971 to 1977. Byrd was president pro tempore (temporary president) of the Senate from 1989 to 1995 and from 2001 to 2003.