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'''Jesse Helms''' (born Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr., October 18, 1921, d. July 4, 2008) was a five-time [[Republican]] [[U.S. Senator|senator]] from [[North Carolina]]. <ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000463</ref>  Helms' parents were Jesse Helms Sr., the local chief of police, and his wife Ethel Mae Helms.<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref>  Mr. Helms, throughout his tenure as United States Senator was known for his [[conservative]] principles, including his support for a strong defense, individual rights, the oppressed, and support for freedom.  Like most conservative politicians who eschew political correctness, Helms was frequently the target of mainstream [[media bias]], despite his former career in the media.<ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/biography.asp</ref>  Helms was a staunch advocate for equality under law, but due to his Southern background and incorrect party affiliation, his positions were misrepresented through typically biased reporting.<ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/fictionortruth.asp#handsad</ref> However, Helms opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.<ref>Larry Margasak, Jesse Helms: Polarizer, not a compromiser, Newsweek, July 5, 2008, [http://www.newsweek.com/id/144633]</ref>

'''Jesse Helms''' (born Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr., October 18, 1921, d. July 4, 2008) was a five-time [[Republican]] [[U.S. Senator|senator]] from [[North Carolina]]. <ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000463</ref>  Helms, throughout his tenure as United States Senator was known for his [[conservative]] principles, including his support for a strong defense, individual rights, the oppressed, and support for freedom.  Like most conservative politicians who eschew political correctness, Helms was frequently the target of mainstream [[media bias]], despite his former career in the media.<ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/biography.asp</ref>  Helms was a staunch advocate for equality under law, but due to his Southern background and incorrect party affiliation, his positions were misrepresented through typically biased reporting.<ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/fictionortruth.asp#handsad</ref> However, Helms opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.<ref>Larry Margasak, Jesse Helms: Polarizer, not a compromiser, Newsweek, July 5, 2008, [http://www.newsweek.com/id/144633]</ref>

Frequently Helms was the target of massive, heavily funded [[liberal]] efforts to defeat him at reelection, and every time Helms crushed the liberals and won handily.  In 1990, a weak election year for [[Republicans]], polls just prior to the election suggested that his [[liberal]] African American opponent Harvey Gantt would prevail.  Helms ran a final advertisement that became famous as the "hands" ad, showing a white pair of hands and a voice complaining that he lost a job opportunity due to [[affirmative action]], which his opponent supported.<ref>The voice in the ad stated, "You needed that job and you were the best qualified, but they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota. Is that really fair? Harvey Gantt says it is."[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92241325&ft=1&f=1003]</ref>  The [[liberal]] press accused Helms of injecting race into the campaign, to which he responded:<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92241325&ft=1&f=1003</ref>

Frequently Helms was the target of massive, heavily funded [[liberal]] efforts to defeat him at reelection, and every time Helms crushed the liberals and won handily.  In 1990, a weak election year for [[Republicans]], polls just prior to the election suggested that his [[liberal]] African American opponent Harvey Gantt would prevail.  Helms ran a final advertisement that became famous as the "hands" ad, showing a white pair of hands and a voice complaining that he lost a job opportunity due to [[affirmative action]], which his opponent supported.<ref>The voice in the ad stated, "You needed that job and you were the best qualified, but they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota. Is that really fair? Harvey Gantt says it is."[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92241325&ft=1&f=1003]</ref>  The [[liberal]] press accused Helms of injecting race into the campaign, to which he responded:<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92241325&ft=1&f=1003</ref>

While Helms might be called an Internationalist, his support can be understood more in terms of Western military alliances that strengthened US Security such as [[NATO]] as opposed to organizations such as the [[UN]] <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/fictionortruth.asp#fic1</ref>.

While Helms might be called an Internationalist, his support can be understood more in terms of Western military alliances that strengthened US Security such as [[NATO]] as opposed to organizations such as the [[UN]] <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/fictionortruth.asp#fic1</ref>.

Helms died at age 86 of natural causes at 1:15 a.m on the [[Fourth of July]], 2008, in [[Raleigh]].<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080704/ap_on_re_us/obit_helms</ref>

Helms died at age 86 of natural causes on the [[Fourth of July]], 2008, in [[Raleigh]].<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080704/ap_on_re_us/obit_helms</ref>

== Early Life ==

== Early Life ==

 

=== Education ===

=== Education ===

 

Helms attended public schools.  He said this about his high school principal:<ref>http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5glajfJbQP2WmgGcjVzbfYrT4VKWwD91N40A80</ref>

Mr. Helms attended [[public school]]s in his hometown of Monroe County, prior to the censoring of [[prayer]] in the classroom.  He said this about his high school principle:<ref>http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5glajfJbQP2WmgGcjVzbfYrT4VKWwD91N40A80</ref>

:"If he taught us anything, he taught us that we are personally responsible and accountable. I remember that day, and always will, when he called in several from the senior class. ... He said you can make it in this country. He said it's going to take hard work. ... He said you're going to succeed. He said you'll own your own homes and you'll have two cars and all that. I thought this man had lost his mind."

:"If he taught us anything, he taught us that we are personally responsible and accountable. I remember that day, and always will, when he called in several from the senior class. ... He said you can make it in this country. He said it's going to take hard work. ... He said you're going to succeed. He said you'll own your own homes and you'll have two cars and all that. I thought this man had lost his mind."

After graduating from high school, Mr. Helms attended Wingate Junior College and Wake Forest College.

Helms attended Wingate Junior College and Wake Forest College.

 

In 1939, Helms quit Wake Forest to work as a [[journalist]] on the Raleigh News and Observer.  By the age of 21 he managed one of the paper's smaller papers. <ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref>

In 1939, Helms quit Wake Forest to work as a [[journalist]] on the Raleigh News and Observer.  By the age of 21 he managed one of the paper's smaller papers. <ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref>

=== WRAL Radio and AA to Senator Willis Smith ===

=== WRAL Radio and AA to Senator Willis Smith ===

In 1948, became a radio news director at WRAL in Raleigh, NC.  Helms reported on the heated 1950 Democratic primary for the Senate.  Another ad featured photographs Helms himself had doctored to illustrate the allegation that Graham's wife had danced with a black man. The winner of this race, Senator Willis Smith, took him to Washington as his administrative assistant a post at which he served until 1953 staying on to become Senator Alton Lennon's assistant after Smith's untimely demise<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000463</ref>.  Willis, like Helms was a conservative Southern Democrat <ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref>.  Willis's defeated opponent, the liberal Frank Porter Graham was appointed by his supporter President Harry Truman as Ambassador to the United Nations<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=g000353</ref>.  During his tenure in Washington Mr. Helms also worked on the unsuccessful Democratic primary presidential campaign of Richard B. Russell, Jr.

In 1948, became a radio news director at WRAL in Raleigh, NC.  Helms reported on the heated 1950 Democratic primary for the Senate.  Another ad featured photographs Helms himself had doctored to illustrate the allegation that Graham's wife had danced with a black man. The winner of this race, Senator Willis Smith, took him to Washington as his administrative assistant a post at which he served until 1953 staying on to become Senator Alton Lennon's assistant after Smith's untimely demise<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000463</ref>.  Willis, like Helms was a conservative Southern Democrat <ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref>.  Willis's defeated opponent, the liberal Frank Porter Graham was appointed by his supporter President Harry Truman as Ambassador to the United Nations<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=g000353</ref>.  Helms also worked on the unsuccessful Democratic primary presidential campaign of Richard B. Russell, Jr., in 1952.

=== Bankers Association to Capital Broadcasting ===

=== Bankers Association to Capital Broadcasting ===

Helms early work in politics lead him to become the Executive director of the North Carolina Bankers Association and later the Raleigh City Council where he opposed excessive taxation and supported limiting the growth of government<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref>.  By the mid-1960's, Helms became the executive Vice President for Capitol Broadcasting in Raleigh, NC.  Mr. Helms directed the news operation and delivered over-the-air commentaries.  Mr. Helms developed a following due to his firebrand but perceptive political commentary <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/biography.asp</ref> which often attacked the decline of morality, liberal trends in society of the time, the Federal government's dubious social engineering in the southern states and Judicial activism <ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref>.

Helms early work in politics lead him to become the Executive director of the North Carolina Bankers Association and later the Raleigh City Council where he opposed excessive taxation and supported limiting the growth of government<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref>.  By the mid-1960's, Helms became the executive Vice President for Capitol Broadcasting in Raleigh.  He directed the news operation and delivered over-the-air commentaries.  Helms developed a following due to his firebrand but perceptive political commentary <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/biography.asp</ref> which often attacked the decline of morality, liberal trends in society of the time, the Federal government's dubious social engineering in the southern states and Judicial activism <ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref>.

== Senate Career ==

== Senate Career ==

=== Senator No ===

=== Senator No ===

 

Helms' opposition to increasing the role of the federal government in the lives of every day citizens earned him the title "Senator No".  From his first term to his last Helms rejected nominations of unqualified liberal candidates, against federal spending (except millitary spending and federal aid for farmers), <ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref> and opposed naming a holiday for Dr. [[Martin Luther King]]<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/04/obit.helms/index.html]</ref>.  Helms supported and befriended qualified candidates regardless of party affiliation whom he felt would better the country, such as [[Madeline Albright]] for US Ambassador to the United Nations and later Secretary of State (ref: Madam Secretary, Madeline Albright).  Helms was known for his bipartisan friendships despite ideological differences.  However, Helms was broadminded and tolerant of contrary views, and unafraid to be proven in error. For instance Helms originally stood against increased funding to stop the devastation caused by [[AIDS]] in Africa.  Helms change of heart on this issue in his own words: "It had been my feeling that AIDS was a disease largely spread by reckless and voluntary sexual and drug-abusing behavior, and that it would probably be confined to those in high risk populations. I was wrong." <ref>Jesse Helms, ''Here's Where I Stand: A Memoir'' (2005)</ref>

Mr. Helms' opposition to increasing the role of the federal government in the lives of every day citizens earned him the title "Senator No".  From his first term to his last Mr. Helms rejected nominations of unqualified liberal candidates, against federal spending (except his very principaled stance for the millitary and economically and strategically sound support for federal aid for farmers), <ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/jesse-helms</ref> and opposed naming a holiday for Dr. [[Martin Luther King]]<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/04/obit.helms/index.html]</ref>.  Helms supported and befriended qualified candidates regardless of party affiliation whom he felt would better the country, such as [[Madeline Albright]] for US Ambassador to the United Nations and later Secretary of State (ref: Madam Secretary, Madeline Albright).  Helms was known for his bipartisan friendships despite ideological differences.  However, Helms was broadminded and tolerant of contrary views, and unafraid to be proven in error. For instance Helms originally stood against increased funding to stop the devastation caused by [[AIDS]] in Africa.  Helms change of heart on this issue in his own words: "It had been my feeling that AIDS was a disease largely spread by reckless and voluntary sexual and drug-abusing behavior, and that it would probably be confined to those in high risk populations. I was wrong." <ref>Jesse Helms, ''Here's Where I Stand: A Memoir,'' ISBN 0-37-550884-8</ref>

=== Standing on principle ===

=== Standing on principle ===

 

Helms challenged the Republican party to promote the socially and economically conservative values of the American People.  Helms's conservative values won him a 100% rating from the American Conservative Union for the entire last decade he was in office and never more than 10% according to similar liberal groups.  Terry O'Neill -- of the far left [[feminist]] group, the [[National Organization for Women]] -- on hearing of Helms ill health and planned retirement reacted gleefully with the statement "It's a very good thing for the country that he's leaving the Senate."   

Helms challenged the Republican party to engage the socially and economically conservative values of the American People.  Helms's conservative values won him a 100% rating from the American Conservative Union for the entire last decade he was in office and never more than 10% according to similar liberal groups.  Terry O'Neill -- of the far left [[feminist]] group, the [[National Organization for Women]] -- on hearing of Helms ill health and planned retirement reacted gleefully with the statement "It's a very good thing for the country that he's leaving the Senate."   

Helms stated his disbelief in the old adage that "morality cannot be legislated".  Helms took an active role in campaigning and in helping the Republican party to engage these values.  First in his early work for Smith, then locally and eventually in early 1980 played a key role in helping the father of modern conservative, Ronald Reagan, win the Republican primary and take the White House back from the liberal president Jimmy Carter.  Helms's political action committee spent over $4.6 million dollars to help Reagan capture the white house <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b8990d63719.htm</ref>.  Until recently, when Helms became incapacitated, in his home state of North Carolina few Conservative Republican candidates would run for state or national office without an endorsement from Helms.

Helms stated his disbelief in the old adage that "morality cannot be legislated".  Helms took an active role in campaigning and in helping the Republican party to engage these values.  First in his early work for Smith, then locally and eventually in early 1980 played a key role in helping the father of modern conservative, Ronald Reagan, win the Republican primary and take the White House back from the liberal president Jimmy Carter.  Helms's political action committee spent over $4.6 million dollars to help Reagan capture the white house <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b8990d63719.htm</ref>.  Until recently, when Helms became incapacitated, in his home state of North Carolina few Conservative Republican candidates would run for state or national office without an endorsement from Helms.

=== Foreign Policy ===

=== Foreign Policy ===

Helms believed that America should stand against dictators and help bring its values of freedom and democracy to the world.  This belief caused Helms to stand against "Most Favored Nation" status for China (which the Reagan and Nixon Administrations supported).  At the same time, Helms stood for a strong national defense and strongly opposed Communism and would occasionally compromise on the humanitarian part of his policy when it suited those aims, such was the case in his support for the dictator Augusto Pinochet.  <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/principles/default.asp</ref> Helms also stood up against arms control and nuclear test-ban treaties even when some of these measures were supported by Reagan himself <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b8990d63719.htm</ref>.

Helms believed that America should stand against dictators and help bring its values of freedom and democracy to the world.  This belief caused Helms to stand against "Most Favored Nation" status for China (which the Reagan and Nixon Administrations supported).  At the same time, Helms stood for a strong national defense and strongly opposed Communism and would occasionally compromise on the humanitarian part of his policy when it suited those aims, such was the case in his support for the dictator Augusto Pinochet.  <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/principles/default.asp</ref>

Helms opposed arms control and nuclear test-ban treaties even when some of these measures were supported by Reagan himself <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b8990d63719.htm</ref>.

=== Liberal opposition ===

=== Liberal opposition ===

Some in the liberal media have questioned Helms' integrity, largely due to his standing against Affirmative Action programs and quotas and secondly for his opposition to many liberal appointees for federal office <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/fictionortruth.asp#fic2</ref>.  Mr. Helms stated in his biography he has stood up for candidates in the jobs for which they were qualified.  He has opposed liberal and unqualified candidates in posts for which they were not qualified.  The record shows Helms enthusiastically supported African American candidates [[Clarence Thomas]], [[Colin Powell]], [[Claude Allen]], and [[Condoleezza Rice]], as well as other well qualified candidates for the positions in which they were appointed.  <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/fictionortruth.asp#fic5</ref>.

Some in the liberal media have questioned Helms' integrity, largely due to his standing against Affirmative Action programs and quotas and secondly for his opposition to many liberal appointees for federal office <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/fictionortruth.asp#fic2</ref>.  Helms stated in his biography he has stood up for candidates in the jobs for which they were qualified.  He has opposed liberal and unqualified candidates in posts for which they were not qualified.  The record shows Helms enthusiastically supported African American candidates [[Clarence Thomas]], [[Colin Powell]], [[Claude Allen]], and [[Condoleezza Rice]], as well as other well qualified candidates for the positions in which they were appointed.  <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/fictionortruth.asp#fic5</ref>.

== Humanitarian ==

== Humanitarian ==

==Work for Americans held captive==

==Work for Americans held captive==

On December 5, 1991, Senator Helms wrote to Boris Yeltsin concerning U.S. servicemen who were POWs or MIAs. "The status of thousands and thousands of American servicemen who are held by Soviet and other Communist forces, and who were never repatriated after every major war this century, is of grave concern to the American people." Yeltsin would ultimately respond with a statement made on June 15, 1992, while being interviewed aboard his presidential jet on his way to the United States, "Our archives have shown that it is true — some of them were transferred to the territory of the U.S.S.R. and were kept in labor camps... We can only surmise that some of them may still be alive."

On December 5, 1991, Senator Helms wrote to Russian President Boris Yeltsin concerning U.S. servicemen who were POWs or MIAs. "The status of thousands and thousands of American servicemen who are held by Soviet and other Communist forces, and who were never repatriated after every major war this century, is of grave concern to the American people." Yeltsin would ultimately respond with a statement made on June 15, 1992, while being interviewed aboard his presidential jet on his way to the United States, "Our archives have shown that it is true — some of them were transferred to the territory of the U.S.S.R. and were kept in labor camps... We can only surmise that some of them may still be alive."

====Korean Airlines Flight 007====

====Korean Airlines Flight 007====