Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education
  • Home
  • About
    • Latest News
    • Statement on Systemic Racism
    • Leadership
    • Our Partners
    • Parking and Directions
  • Education
    • People Powered 2023 Program
    • Educational Resources
    • Teacher Institute
    • Internship Program
  • Research
    • Congressional Collections >
      • Robert C. Byrd Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Jr. Congressional Papers
      • Scot Falkner CAO Papers
    • Blog
    • Digital Collections
    • Oral History Project
    • Plan a Visit to the Archives
    • Collecting Policy
  • Events
    • Voices of the Community series
    • Summer Fundraiser 2023
    • Forum on Pollution
    • Formidable - author event
    • Voices of the Community
    • Constitution Day
    • Past Events
  • Support Us
    • Friends of the Byrd Center
    • Name a Seat
    • Annual Report
  • Reservations
  • Login

Senator Robert C. Byrd, Mountain Fiddler II (Student Edition)

12/3/2013

 
Note: This post was previously listed under our "News from the Grey Box" blog series 
Part 2 of a 4 Part Series

By Malorie Matos

Senator Robert C. Byrd’s political career was a long and substantial one, spanning over 60 years, but the late senator’s impressive career may have never begun at all had it not been for an unlikely political tool: his fiddle.

When 29 year-old Robert Byrd first considered a run for the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1946, his chances at victory seemed highly unlikely. Byrd was not an established politician, nor did he have any money or political connections. He was simply a small-town butcher from a poor coal-mining family with no way of effectively gaining support. It was not until an acquaintance of Byrd’s suggested he play his fiddle at rallies that his luck began to change.
Byrd took to the campaign trail playing the traditional bluegrass songs that he knew from his childhood. Having grown up in the rural mountain town of Stotesbury, Byrd understood the important role that music played in building community relationships. He often went to small towns where residents did not trust politicians and were uninterested in what they had to say. His fiddle allowed him to reach out to those voters, gaining him the support he needed to strengthen his candidacy.
​
Newspapers quickly took notice of Byrd’s unique campaign tactics, often calling him “Fiddlin’ Bob Byrd.” Ads in local papers announced appearances by Robert C. Byrd, saying, “Come and see the candidate who campaigns in the style of the old-fashioned South with his trusty fiddle and the bow!”
Picture
Byrd Campaign Ad, Raleigh Register, 1946
Byrd continued to fiddle up support in his campaigns for West Virginia State Senate in 1950, the U.S House of Representatives in 1952 and for the U.S Senate race in 1958. His down-home persona appealed to the masses of West Virginia, keeping Byrd in every race even as opponents attacked him and the Democratic Party withheld their support.  During his first U.S Senate race, Byrd garnered an enormous amount of national attention. The New York Times ran many articles about West Virginia’s U.S. Senate race, almost always mentioning Byrd’s “foot-stomping fiddling” and including photos of his entertaining rallies.
Picture
Robert Byrd on the U.S. Senate Campaign Trail. New York Times, 1958
PictureByrd presents President Jimmy Carter with a copy of Mountain Fiddler, 1978
For the next few years, Byrd focused on working his way up in the Senate and primarily played the fiddle in his down time. Byrd occasionally broke out his old political tool during his endorsement appearances for the Kennedy-Johnson presidential ticket in 1960, but his fiddling otherwise took a backseat to the hot-topic issues on Capitol Hill.

It was not until he announced his candidacy for President in 1976 that Senator Byrd’s fiddling reemerged in the public eye. Byrd once again used his musical skill to attract the attention of potential voters. He played at special events, including the African American Democratic Party dinner and southern political rallies.

Byrd did not continue with his presidential campaign, instead choosing to pursue the position of Senate Majority Leader, but his characterization as “the fiddlin’ senator” had made a comeback during his brief time on the campaign trail.

In the years following, Byrd made numerous public appearances playing tunes on his fiddle. He played at several Democratic Party functions, and he even played fiddle with a Panamanian orchestra on a senatorial trip to settle the controversy over the Panama Canal treaties. The senator also made the rounds at dozens of community festivals in West Virginia, playing with local string bands and maintaining the country-boy image that so endeared him to his voters.
​
Senator Byrd continued to use the fiddle to boost his public image throughout the 1970’s. He appeared on the television show Hee Haw, played at the prestigious Grand Ole Opry, and finally solidified his unusual place in popular culture with the release of his bluegrass album, Mountain Fiddler. These appearances helped to soften the serious demeanor for which Byrd gained a reputation during his time in Congress.

Whether he was gathering support on the campaign trail, entertaining fellow Democrats, or reaffirming his West Virginia heritage, Robert Byrd knew how to use his fiddle to his advantage. His ability to connect with constituents though music helped earn him the support that he needed to build a long-lasting political career.

Sources:
​
Child of the Appalachian Coalfields by Robert C. Byrd

New York Times article, Oct. 18, 1958

The Raleigh Register ad, July 28, 1946

The Last Great Senator: Robert C. Byrd’s Encounters with Eleven U.S. Presidents by David Corbin

Comments are closed.
    Welcome to the Byrd Center Blog! We share content here including research from our archival collections, articles from our director, and information on upcoming events. 

    Categories

    All
    Director's Posts
    Intern Blogs
    Posts From The Archives

    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    November 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    December 2011

    RSS Feed

Picture
213 North King Street
PO Box 5000
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
(304) 876 - 5702

Our Mission:

The Byrd Center advances representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
© 2021 Robert C. Byrd Center for
​Congressional History and Education
  • Home
  • About
    • Latest News
    • Statement on Systemic Racism
    • Leadership
    • Our Partners
    • Parking and Directions
  • Education
    • People Powered 2023 Program
    • Educational Resources
    • Teacher Institute
    • Internship Program
  • Research
    • Congressional Collections >
      • Robert C. Byrd Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Jr. Congressional Papers
      • Scot Falkner CAO Papers
    • Blog
    • Digital Collections
    • Oral History Project
    • Plan a Visit to the Archives
    • Collecting Policy
  • Events
    • Voices of the Community series
    • Summer Fundraiser 2023
    • Forum on Pollution
    • Formidable - author event
    • Voices of the Community
    • Constitution Day
    • Past Events
  • Support Us
    • Friends of the Byrd Center
    • Name a Seat
    • Annual Report
  • Reservations
  • Login