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'''Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr.''' (b October 18, 1921, d. July 4, 2008) is a former five-time [[Republican]] [[U.S. Senator|senator]] from Monroe, [[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' 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>

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>

=== Pre-[[World War II]] Journalist ===

=== Pre-[[World War II]] Journalist ===

Like President [[Ronald Reagan]], Mr. Helms started his political career in the media.  In 1939, Mr. Helms quit Wake Forest to work as a [[journalist]] on the Raleigh News and Observer.  By the age of 21 Mr. Helms 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>

During World War II, Helms served in the Navy as a recruiter.  It was during his military career that he discovered his knack for broadcasting.

 

During World War II, Mr. Helms was drafted into the Navy as a recruiter.  It was during his military career that Helms discovered his knack for broadcasting.

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

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

=== 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, 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>.

=== Democrat to Republican ===

=== Democrat to Republican ===

In 1970, Helms left the Democratic party, which was far more popular in the South as a whole, for the Republican party, which had been the catalyst in the [[American Civil War]] a century before.  Guided, in part, by the moderate Republican policies of candidate [[Richard M. Nixon]], Mr. Helms lead a victorious campaign against his opponent, Democrat Nick Galifianakis.  Mr. Helms's campaign succeeded in associating Galifiankis with liberal presidential candidate George McGovern.

In 1970, Helms left the Democratic party for the Republican party, which had long been unpopular outside the Carolina mountain districts. His shift reflected the movement of young white conserbvatives into the GOP across the South.  In 1972 he ran for the Senate as a supporter of Republican presidential candidate [[Richard M. Nixon]]. Helms faced liberal Democrat Nick Galifianakis.  Helms's successful tactic was to associate Galifiankis with the highly unpopular liberal presidential candidate [[George McGovern]]. He won the Senate seat with 54% of the vote. He was reelected in 1978 (with 55%), 1984 (with 52%), 1990 (with 53%), and 1996 (with 53%). His marhgins were never large and his campaigns were always intensely fought.  Although repeatedly targeted for defeat by national Democrats, he always pulled off narrow victories, and helped his allies win statewide office as well.  

=== Senator No ===

=== Senator No ===

Helms and his conservative values can be summed up in his own words: "Compromise, hell!" Helms said. "That's what has happened to us all down the line -- and that's the very cause of our woes." <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b8990d63719.htm</ref>

Helms and his conservative values can be summed up in his own words: "Compromise, hell!" Helms said. "That's what has happened to us all down the line -- and that's the very cause of our woes." <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b8990d63719.htm</ref>

==See Also==

==See Also==

*[http://www.rescue007.org/republican_staff_study.htm Complete 1991 Republican Staff Study (draft) on KAL 007 of Committee on Foreign Relations commissioned by Senator Helms]

*[http://www.rescue007.org/republican_staff_study.htm Complete 1991 Republican Staff Study (draft) on KAL 007 of Committee on Foreign Relations commissioned by Senator Helms]

*[http://www.aim.org/aim-report/hold-russia-accountable-for-kal-007-shootdown/ Accuracy In Media report "Hold Russia Acountable For KAL 007 Shootdown", with Jesse Helms addendum below]

*[http://www.aim.org/aim-report/hold-russia-accountable-for-kal-007-shootdown/ Accuracy In Media report "Hold Russia Acountable For KAL 007 Shootdown", with Jesse Helms addendum below]

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