Associated press photography From left, the late Democratic Sens. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii all served about a half-century in the Senate. Mr. Inouye’s death leaves Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, New Jersey Democrat, who turns 89 in January, as the oldest senator, though with nowhere near their length of service.
The death of Democratic Sen. Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii — and those of Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia and Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts before him — leaves Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, New Jersey Democrat, who turns 89 in January, as the oldest senator, though with nowhere near their length of service. (Associated Press)
** FILE ** This Tuesday Nov. 7, 2006, file photo shows the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., as he speaks upon winning his ninth term, in Charleston, W.Va. Byrd created a stir in the mid-1960s within the nation's intelligence community when he obtained secret FBI reports leaked by the CIA. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner, File)
** FILE ** This Tuesday Nov. 7, 2006, file photo shows the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., as he speaks upon winning his ninth term, in Charleston, W.Va. Byrd created a stir in the mid-1960s within the nation's intelligence community when he obtained secret FBI reports leaked by the CIA. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner, File)
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III (center) celebrates his win Tuesday in Charleston, W. Va. He assumes the Senate seat held for more than 50 years by Robert C. Byrd.
A military honor guard escorts the casket of Sen. Robert Byrd, Tuesday, July 6, 2010, after a funeral service at the Memorial Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Linda Davidson, Pool)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, talks with Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., during a funeral service for Sen. Robert Byrd, Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at the Memorial Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Linda Davidson, Pool)
From second from left, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, Sharon Rockefeller, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and others, attend a funeral service for Sen. Robert Byrd, Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at the Memorial Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Linda Davidson, Pool)
From right to left, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., his wife Sharon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and others, attend a funeral service for Sen. Robert Byrd, Tuesday July 6, 2010, at the Memorial Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Linda Davidson, Pool)
