After a long and hard fought battle with vascular dementia, Former United States senator from North Carolina Jesse Helms has died today at the age of 86.
Jesse Helms lived a very accomplished life, to say the least. For more than a half-century he was a reporter, congressional aide, bankers lobbyist, city councilman, hard-hitting television commentator and finally U.S. senator from North Carolina.
Helms was born Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. on October 18, 1921 in Monroe, North Carolina. He was a five term senator for N.C. and was also a former Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman. He also became the first U.S. lawmaker to speak in front of the United Nations Security Council.
Helms opposed the use of American troops in Bosnia saying “I will not support sending American soldiers to fight and to die for the sake of an agreement not yet reached which may offer no more than the promise of a brief pause while all sides prepare for the next round of Balkan wars.”
In 2002, Helms received the Clare Boothe Luce Award, which is the foundation’s highest award. The Foundation stated, “[Helms is] dedicated, unflinching and articulate advocate of conservative policy and principle.”
Helms was certainly no stranger to controversy throughout his career. With his ties to Salvadoran death squad leader Roberto D’Aubuisson, his unflinching support of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, and statements viewed by some as racist and homophobic.
Helms will be remembered as different from his contemporaries in that he was unyielding on issues that were important to him. Unlike other conservatives, such as Mississippi’s Sen. Trent Lott or Georgia’s former Rep. Newt Gingrich, who fought for their causes but found ways to reach accord with Democrats, Helms seldom gave in.
“Compromise, hell!” Helms, who acquired the nickname Senator No, wrote in 1959.
In addition to his wife, Dorothy, he leaves two daughters, Jane Knox and Nancy Stuart; a son, Charles; and four grandchildren, all of North Carolina.