Jesse Helms

Date of Birth: October 18, 1921

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: July 4, 2008

Biography

Jesse Alexander Helms Jr. was a prominent American politician and a leading figure in the conservative wing of the Republican Party. Born in Monroe, North Carolina, Helms had a long career in politics, serving as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina for five terms, from 1973 to 2003. Helms was known for his staunch conservative views, particularly on social issues such as civil rights, abortion, and LGBTQ+ rights. He was often referred to as “Senator No” due to his frequent opposition to liberal policies and his use of filibusters to block legislation he opposed. Before his Senate career, Helms was an influential television and radio commentator, which helped him build a strong political base. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 86.

5 Interesting Facts about Jesse Helms

1. Jesse Helms was the first Republican to be popularly elected to the U.S. Senate from North Carolina.

2. He was a key player in the establishment of the modern conservative movement in the United States.

3. Helms served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

4. He played a significant role in the defeat of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1999.

5. Helms was a vocal supporter of the apartheid regime in South Africa.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jesse Helms

1. “Compromise, hell! That’s what has happened to us all down the line—and that’s the very cause of our woes.”

2. “I didn’t come to Washington to be a ‘yes man’ for any President, Democrat or Republican.”

3. “The New Deal started this country down the road to socialism and paved the way for the Great Society’s war on poverty, which culminated in the war on prosperity.”

4. “The big spenders in Washington have turned the tax collector into the tax predator.”

5. “To the degree that these things have been accomplished, they have been accomplished because of the good people of North Carolina.”