Word: byrds
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Charles Percy of Illinois describe his extraordinary meeting last week with Soviet Party Chief Leonid Brezhnev in Moscow. The conference lasted two hours and 40 minutes, more than an hour longer than scheduled. It marked the first time since July 1979, when Brezhnev met with Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd, that the Soviet leader has talked in person and at length with a high-level U.S. official. From all appearances, it was a major effort by the Kremlin to launch an early dialogue with the incoming Reagan Administration...
...talk was of working together. To reporters, Reagan asserted, "We're not going to accomplish anything without the cooperation of the House and Senate." To Democratic Senators gathered in the office of Majority Leader Robert Byrd, he promised, "There will be no surprises. We'll not send stuff up here without telling you in advance." He did not need to stress the contrast to Carter, who often sprang surprises on even his own party's leaders in Congress. Said Byrd: "You were gracious to come by. We'll support you when we can and be constructive...
Tennessee's Howard Baker, who will take over from Byrd as majority leader in the new Senate, told the Republican Senators assembled in his office, "I don't remember when any incoming President has met so quickly with members of Congress." Later in the week Baker, who accompanied Reagan on several of his rounds, wryly observed, "I've been smiling so much my jowls hurt...
They are indeed. The Republicans had seized control of the Senate, 53 to 46 (Virginia's Harry Byrd is an independent), and narrowed the Democratic margin in the House from 114 to 50, sweeping out many liberals in the process. Republicans are poised to pass conservative legislation, working hand in hand with Ronald Reagan. "We're not going to be arrogant or gloat," said South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond who, in one of the most startling shifts, will replace Kennedy as chairman of the influential Judiciary Committee, "but we're going to be determined to bring some...
Meanwhile, there were political games aplenty being played last week by both parties in the lameduck Congress. Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd wanted Congress to complete action on a $39 billion package of tax cuts that was pending. So did Republican Dole, who will soon chair the Finance Committee, and Reagan signaled his approval. But Carter threatened to veto any such bill. That effectively killed the legislation and left Reagan free to start anew with his own tax cut ideas in January...