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famous "hands" ad
'''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 viewpoints, support for a strong defense, individual rights, the oppressed, and support for freedom. Like most conservative politicians who escew 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 misrepresrented through typically biased reporting. <ref>http://www.jessehelmscenter.org/jessehelms/fictionortruth.asp#handsad</ref>. While Helms can 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>.
'''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>.
Frequently Helms would be 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>
:"Absolutely not. What am I supposed to do? Ignore everything that involves a black man? That would make me speechless in this campaign, and Mr. Gantt knows how to dish it out but he can't take it."
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>
== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==
=== Education ===
=== Education ===
Mr. Helms attended public schools in his home, Monroe County. After graduating from high school, Mr. Helms attended Wingate Junior College and Wake Forest College.
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."
After graduating from high school, Mr. Helms attended Wingate Junior College and Wake Forest College.
=== Pre-[[World War II]] Journalist ===
=== Pre-[[World War II]] Journalist ===
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."{{fact}}
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."{{fact}}
=== Standing on principal ===
=== Standing on principle ===
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 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."