In 1946, Byrd wrote a letter to Samuel Green, the Ku Klux Klan's Grand Wizard, stating, "The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia and in every state in the nation". The same year, he was encouraged to run for the West Virginia House of Delegates by the Klan's grand dragon; Byrd won, and took his seat in January 1947. However, during his campaign for the United States House of Representatives in 1952, he announced that, "after about a year, I became disinterested, quit paying my dues, and dropped my membership in the organization", and that during the nine years that have followed, he had never been interested in the Klan. He said he had joined the Klan because he felt it offered excitement and was anti-communist, but also suggested his participation there "reflected the fears and prejudices" of the time.
in 1946 byrd wrote a letter to samuel green the ku klux klan's grand wizard stating "the klan is needed today as never before and i am anxious to see its rebirth here in west virginia and in every state in the nation" the same year he was encouraged to run for the west virginia house of delegates by the klan's grand dragon; byrd won and took his seat in january 1947 however during his campaign for the united states house of representatives in 1952 he announced that "after about a year i became disinterested quit paying my dues and dropped my membership in the organization" and that during the nine years that have followed he had never been interested in the klan he said he had joined the klan because he felt it offered excitement and was anti-communist but also suggested his participation there "reflected the fears and prejudices" of the time