Robert Byrd: Male Model

Apparently, some people thought the Senator from West Virginia should have pursued an alternative career path:

Robert C. Byrd was known for many things — his mastery of Senate rules, his oratorical skills, his ability to quote long passages of poetry from memory. At one time, he was apparently also considered quite the looker. “If you ever decide you’ve had enough of the Senate (which would be the country’s loss) you can always model men’s wear for Brooks Brothers,” one female admirer wrote Byrd in April 1978. “What a super model you’d make.”

Byrd’s correspondent was none other than Abigail “Dear Abby” Van Buren, who wrote to Byrd, then 61, to compliment his “perfectly stunning” photograph in Time magazine.

Okay then.

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.