Kennedy, Byrd and Tydings

It was a touching moment when West Virginia icon Robert Byrd broke down in tears on the Senate floor, lamenting the diagnosis of his friend, Sen. Ted Kennedy.

But relations were not so close a few decades ago, when Byrd managed to oust the Massachusetts Senator from his Senate leadership position in the Democratic Caucus in 1971.

Kennedy had triumphed over Louisiana Sen. Russell Long in 1969, wresting away the title of Majority Whip in a 31-26 vote that had pitted the Southern and hawkish Senators against the Northern and dove-ish members. Southerners dominated the committee chairs, and were set on keeping one of their own in a leadership position.

Kennedy gave them their opportunity when he became shrouded in the scandal of Chappaquiddick, but his position was further imperiled when several of his key caucus allies went down in defeat in 1970 -- including Sen. Joseph Tydings. Tydings was the only major Maryland pol -- as well as the only one in the whole U.S. Senate who wasn't a blood relative -- to come out publicly for Robert Kennedy in 1968.

And remarkably, a staunch Byrd backer hung on just long enough to deliver a proxy vote: Sen. Richard Russell of Georgia, dying of cancer, affirmed his support, making 28 -- a majority by Byrd's count. Byrd might not have gone through with the challenge had he not been sure he had the votes, and Russell died at Walter Reed Hospital a mere four hours after the caucus met.

Byrd won a 31-24 vote that helped to confirm Kennedy was too weak to be a serious presidential contender in 1972.