as a hardline conservative on spending issues. >> we can't afford to give any administration a blank check. >> reporter: and a reformer on campaign financing. >> to rise above partisanship and really do something about our present sorry system of financing federal campaigns. >> reporter: a student of history, byrd dressed as a confederate officer in a cameo rule in the film "gods and generals" but it was a real life role that caused him life long embarrassment, his membership decades ago in the ku klux klan. he later condemned the klan. a two-time majority leader in the senate, byrd served 12 presidents. some he liked, some he didn't. >> mission accomplished, mission in iraq as laid out by president