" In the 1970s, Byrd explicitly renounced his earlier views favoring
racial segregation.
[20][65] Byrd said that he regretted
filibustering and voting against the
Civil Rights Act of 1964[66] and would change it if he had the opportunity. Byrd also said that his views changed dramatically after his teenage grandson was killed in a 1982 traffic accident, which put him in a deep emotional valley. "The death of my grandson caused me to stop and think," said Byrd, adding he came to realize that African-Americans love their children as much as he does his.
[67] During debate in 1983 over the passage of the law creating the
Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, Byrd grasped the symbolism of the day and its significance to his legacy, telling members of his staff "I'm the only one in the Senate who
must vote for this bill".
[64]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd