Robert Byrd

Just got word about Senator Robert Byrd dying and not too sure what to make of it. The first thoughts that came to mind are, he's been serving my entire life and damn near my parents entire lives. Dude has sat in the Senate for almost 60 years. That's a long time. I keep asking myself, why do we have so many Senators who get to sit up in office till they are that old? The late Strom Thurman, Jesse Helms and Ted Kennedy are a few long time fixtures that come to mind...If you serve in office for that long can you be effective? Did they do what was needed for their states? If you're a Democrat or left leaning was he and others strong advocates or obstacle?