Jesse Helms dies :: WRAL.com

GOLO: Go Local. Talk Local. Share Local.

jackadoo6's blog

jesse helms dies

Published Jul 4, 2008
Views: 1295

Jesse Helms

Regardless of how you felt about Jesse's politics, one had to respect he never retreated on his core beliefs, his soul was not for sale...jack

Raleigh, N.C. — Jesse Helms, the firebrand U.S. senator whose outspoken, conservative views polarized North Carolina and U.S. voters for decades, died early Friday, according to John Dodd, president of the Jesse Helms Center.

He was 86.

His cause of death was not released.

Helms served five terms in the U.S. Senate, retiring in 2003 because of his faltering health. During his 30 years in Capitol Hill, the North Carolina Republican became a powerful voice for a conservative movement that was growing both in Congress and across the country, and he used his position to speak out against issues like gay rights, federal funding for the arts and U.S. foreign aid.

Filed under: Government

Share

195 Comments

Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.

You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.

page 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 \| 5
<prev	next>

sort order: oldest first | newest first

"Let me say that his office staff was the BEST in the Congress. They leaped tall buildings for my friend's adopted children. Again, for the elderly and veterans his staff did fast, efficient work. "

Very true. His staff was outstanding in resolving problems for the ordinary folks of NC.

lolly
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
July 4, 2008 11:18 a.m.

My flag is now at half-staff and will remain so for 30 days in accordance with the prescribed time to honor those who are the greatest our country has to offer and who have passed.

And I don't need a governor or president to tell me to do so. Nor do I need a flag code to dictate the time period of mourning the loss of an honorable man.

Steve Crisp
July 4, 2008 11:19 a.m.

A great man & a great Senator. They don't make them like Jesse anymore.

He will be missed.

wizard633
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
July 4, 2008 11:20 a.m.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL IN GARNER,NC. I WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN MY CLASS TO VOTE IN A STATE AND NATIONAL AND STATE ELECTION. I WAS JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. THEY HAS JUST PAST INTO LEGISLATION FOR 18 YEARS TO VOTE. IN REGISTERED TO VOTE AND REGISTTED AS A RUPLICAN. I VOTE THE PRIMARY THAT YEAR AND NATIONAL IN 1972. I VOTED FOR SENATOR HELMS AND EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN FOR HIM. I NEVER HAD A CANIDATE THAT I BACKED TOTALLY SINCE THEN. I HAVE VOTED "A POLITICAL" SINCE THEN. "A POLIITICAL" I MEAN ON POLITICAL ISSUES ONLY NOT PARTY LINES. WE WILL MISS A CANIDATE THAT STANDS OF FOR AMERICA. SO, AMERICA LISTEN TO AT THE ISSUE NOT THE PARTY WHEN VOTING. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHEN I VOTED THE PRIMARY IN 1972 IN MAY, HE CAN UP TO ME INFORMED ME THAT I WAS AN UNCLE BEFORE MY FAMILY TOLD ME. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE KNOWN YOU SINCE I WAS 6 YEARS OLD. IF, POSSIBLE SPEAK TO THE UP AND COMIMNG CANIDATES TO SPEAK UP FOR FREEDOM AND NOT THEIR PERSONAL GOALS AND/OR PRIDE.

basketballstatsncaaa
GOLO member since April 6, 2008
July 4, 2008 11:21 a.m.

My first real memory of Jesse Helms is seeing him on the floor of the Senate arguing against MLK birthday. I asked a teacher about him and got an understanding of what a racist looks like. The old guard of the republican party is slowing dying. First Strom Thurman and now Jesse Helms. He lasted a long time, because there are a lot of north carolinians that think like him. As a society we are starting to reject the racist attitudes, party because it is being forced on those with them. And partly because of a more diverse and educated society. I wanted Harvey Gant to win, but he didn't. There were to many out there that didn't like his skin tone. We are moving forward as a country, the old republican party is slowy dying. In my opinion, he did plenty to damage race relations in this country and little else. His passing is symbolic in a way. A non-white male running for president signals a change in this country that is long over due. We will get there!

rippedtodeath
July 4, 2008 11:28 a.m.

I can't say that I'll shed any tears at his passing, but I wish him peace.

danriverboy has left da building
GOLO member since June 10, 2008
July 4, 2008 11:29 a.m.

Jesse Helms was a great Senator and did a lot to help lower taxes. Once he chose a side on a position he never faltered. You never saw him apologize for any of his comments because he meant what he said and didn't fall to pressure from the public. He knew he couldn't make everybody happy.

drew9725
GOLO member since March 2, 2009
July 4, 2008 11:29 a.m.

My first memory of Mr. Helms was when he had a lake front home on Gaston Lake in Warren County area decades ago. As a child, my neighbor and I would go to his residence and cut his grass. This was prior to his becoming a commentator on WRAL.

Tawny
GOLO member since October 6, 2007
July 4, 2008 11:30 a.m.

I didn’t always agree with Jessie, but the disagreements were generally in the details more than the concepts. I definitely admired the size of his fruit when it came to sticking with his ideals.

I do have a conceptual problem with politicians in general. I believe that a politician should vote the way that his constituents think, not the way the politician thinks. Public opinion poles have become a way to determine the opinions of the constituents not so much to determine the way that they vote but to determine what they SAY in public.

With Jessie, I felt like he was going to vote the way he thought, regardless of what anyone else thought. And I you didn’t like that, then you shouldn’t vote for him ....

I don’t think he ever apologized for a “slip of the tongue”. If he said it, you could bet that he really meant it ....

It looks like all the old good ones are going. And, I don’t feel too well myself ....

STS

SailbadTheSinner
GOLO member since June 7, 2008
July 4, 2008 11:32 a.m.

As my political beliefs over the past few years shifted more and more towards the conservative, so has my opinion of Jesse Helms. I used to feel as some, that he was way too old fashioned, outspoken, and all the rest of the negative views that people hold of him. In retrospect, I came to admire his unfailing service and unwaivering stance on what he believed was right and what was best for North Carolina and the United States of America. He served us well for many years. Whether you agreed with him or not, you Always knew where he stood. Can you say that about other polititians?

RIP Jesse and God bless

Mojo 47 Blues
GOLO member since July 10, 2007
July 4, 2008 11:35 a.m.

Back in the 80's he was campaigning in Weldon, NC and stopped in at Ralph's Bar-b-que to do some handshaking. My daughter was not yet 2 and he attempted to "kiss the baby". She was holding a chicken leg and when he leaned in to kiss her, she attempted to clobber him in the nose with the chicken leg. He was quicker than she was, so she missed. Not a good moment for mom though.

CuriousT
July 4, 2008 11:35 a.m.

I might add that I don't agree with everything he stood for. His stance against the Martin Luther King holiday went against everything I believe. MLK was a great American hero.

Mojo 47 Blues
GOLO member since July 10, 2007
July 4, 2008 11:37 a.m.

I didn't always agree with Jesse, but he supported our military, he supported our farmers, he did everything he could for this state. I agreed with him on Maplethorpe's pizzChrist, but he shouldn't have whistled "Dixie" at Carol Mosely Braun...but many people don't even know that he hired James Meredith to be on his Senate staff... His work against Marxist professors, calling them exactly what they were - that would be a refreshing change to see, in the politically correct day... May he rest in peace - he had a good run...

tmedlin
GOLO member since August 22, 2007
July 4, 2008 11:40 a.m.

A truly great statesman.Thank you Senator Helms for the work you did in helping keep America the best nation on earth.I am sure many stars await your crown in Heaven and Jesus has welcomed you with open arms and said "well done my good and faithful servant". You will be missed and we pray that God will raise up more "Jesse Helms" in Congress.

evabrewer
July 4, 2008 11:42 a.m.

Like him or not...he loved North Carolina...he would never have taken a 170,000 trip to Italy!

bluewind
GOLO member since February 2, 2008
July 4, 2008 11:42 a.m.

In that same vein, mojo, I have to take into account that he began his career working on the campaigns of 2 noted segregationists, and those truly ugly broadcasts of his on WRAL from the 60s pretty much illustrated that he agreed with them. I admire people standing up for what they believe in, but in his case, those beliefs, in my eyes anyway, pretty much negated any human worth or respect he might have otherwise been entitled to.

danriverboy has left da building
GOLO member since June 10, 2008
July 4, 2008 11:47 a.m.

This was the most racist man I have ever come across in my life and for him to be allowed in the Senate for so long just implies there are alot of other ones there. He was truly a racist and since we have to be honest, when I pulled up WRAL I said GOOD! Just as those who laughed when MLK a man fighting for AA rights was gunned down because he wanted equality. I don't see a positive thing that he did just like Reagan, Bush and among many others.

msfate
July 4, 2008 11:54 a.m.

Yes, danriverbvoy. Helms DID work on the campaigns of two politicians who believed in segregation -- the same as most other politicians of the day. It is also worthy to note that both those men, Willis Smith and Richard Russell, were Democrats. In fact, Helms didn't switch to the Republican party until 1970.

Oh, and don't forget his work with the 1960 campaign of I. Beverly Lake, another Democrat segregationist.

Steve Crisp
July 4, 2008 11:54 a.m.

Madeline Albright felt the same way. Yes, there were others who voiced a more vehement attitude about topics, he was concerened with the subject. There is more I could tell, but I can't and don't need to. Things which have given me a perspective of things many of you cannot imagine. Again....what an appropriate day to "Git on down the road"....

blackdog
July 4, 2008 11:55 a.m.

Bad people live very long, unlike the good ones.Genrally, if you see a young person person die, they were a good person and vice versa.

DrunkSober
GOLO member since September 3, 2007
July 4, 2008 11:55 a.m.

I think druksuber is drunk and stupid, both.

mrkagain
July 4, 2008 11:57 a.m.

As a young ultra-conservative, Jesse Helms inspired me greatly--now slightly older and a bit more liberal, the man Jesse Helms remains highly regarded in my thoughts. For those of us who knew him personally, he was one of the kindest and most gentle men who ever walked the face of this Earth. I will miss him greatly. My prayers are with his precious wife, Dot, and the rest of his family who cherished him greatly.

GVegas80
GOLO member since July 4, 2008
July 4, 2008 11:57 a.m.

You know, after reading the ignorant post by msfate, and hearing the same tripe for decades, I must say that it is difficult to call Helms a racist when he was simply expressing the overwhelming majority feeling of the day. And that includes the feeling of the majority of blacks as the time. Most blacks wanted no more to do with integration than whites. And that voluntary segregationist attitude is seen even today with black neighborhoods, black associations, and black cultural events where whites are not wanted or welcome.

Another thing I find interesting are the news reports of Helms using the term "negro hooligans" to describe some black youth of his day. I believe we currently call them "thugs." Same thing, different term.

Steve Crisp
July 4, 2008 12:02 p.m.

"Yes, danriverbvoy. Helms DID work on the campaigns of two politicians who believed in segregation -- the same as most other politicians of the day. It is also worthy to note that both those men, Willis Smith and Richard Russell, were Democrats. In fact, Helms didn't switch to the Republican party until 1970.

Oh, and don't forget his work with the 1960 campaign of I. Beverly Lake, another Democrat segregationist."

And this redeems him how? Who cares what party he was working for. The concept of segregation itself is evil at its core, which pretty much defines anyone defending it, especially anyone who defended it as vigorously as he did, as evil too.

I don't believe that, in his heart, he ever changed. He was just enough of a politician to recognize when to change his rhetoric.

danriverboy has left da building
GOLO member since June 10, 2008
July 4, 2008 12:03 p.m.

My previous statement went beyond 1000 characters and deleted or went somewhere else. I was stating how I knew him and Dot. How my father and he were friends. How I campaigned in grassroots for the republicans years ago. How my father campaigned for him and was a BIG supporter. This may come as a shock to many here, but I respected the man always. Even when my viewpoints changed as I got older. He could cut through red tape like a samarai. He mellowed a bit as well. My father mellowed a bit also. As more details and actual truths became known to us. Yes, believe it or not, he was once a democrat. I would never call him a flip flopper. He was an American who stood for what he believed was right.

blackdog
July 4, 2008 12:03 p.m.

Anytime a man of Jesse Helms stature passes away, the hatefilled, negative nabobs fall out of the trees like acorns on a windy day. They call him names, when they themselves aren't fit to carry his coat. They make fun of his beliefs when it's obvious they lack even a hint of a guiding light in their own beliefs. This world is a little less without him. For those who seem to strangle and choke when they say his name, I suggest saying it several times rapidly and do us all a favor.

OldRebel
GOLO member since September 1, 2007
July 4, 2008 12:05 p.m.

"I must say that it is difficult to call Helms a racist when he was simply expressing the overwhelming majority feeling of the day."

LOL, you really are a piece of work.

danriverboy has left da building
GOLO member since June 10, 2008
July 4, 2008 12:05 p.m.

Like many others regardless of what you thought about his politics, he stood for what he believed in, which you don't see in today's politics. He said what he meant and meant what he said. I am very sorry to see that he's passed and wish his family much comfort during this time of grief.

obxgal4ever
July 4, 2008 12:08 p.m.

"They make fun of his beliefs when it's obvious they lack even a hint of a guiding light in their own beliefs."

Should we take this to mean that you agreed with his stance on segregation?

danriverboy has left da building
GOLO member since June 10, 2008
July 4, 2008 12:08 p.m.

Steve- You must be along those line of a racist PIG- OOPS did I say that. I said that blacks wanted equality not to be in the same cafeteria with WHITES and be placed on one side because your race felt like they were dirty or unclean. Lets get to the nit of PWT you know what it is. Is this what we call racists whites today? Or do we call them rednecks and hkys same thing as thugs. GET A LIFE

msfate
July 4, 2008 12:09 p.m.

"For those who seem to strangle and choke when they say his name, I suggest saying it several times rapidly and do us all a favor." good one!

tmedlin
GOLO member since August 22, 2007
July 4, 2008 12:10 p.m.

Drink- I'm thinking you mean Martin Luther King, the civil rights leader and not Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer??? Get your thoughts straight......including those "tolerant" views of the liberal left who expect me to say nice things about people and views I don't agree with in the name of "tolerance". Have some tolerance for a family grieving their loved one, please, no matter what you thought of a person or their views. I know nothing of Jesse Helms' Senate career and his stand on segregation.....How it makes him a racist, I don't know, just some hateful intolerant people's opinions, I think.

wcnc
July 4, 2008 12:11 p.m.

Danriverboy:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with segergation. And it doesn't matter whether it involves segregation based on race, religion, creed, national origin, or sex. It is called freedom of association.

The only time segregation is invalid is when PUBLIC entities involuntarlly segregate based on those characteristics. A black should have no more "right" to sit at the lunch counter at a privately owned business than a white should have to join the Black Panthers.

I have always seen Helms as someone who believed that if blacks and whites wanted to be segregated, then so be it. And he also felt, much like our founders on slavery, that forced integration was not the proper way to go, the time was not right to force the change. That would take an attitude change on the part of the people to mandate that change, not government involvement.

You can't force people's beliefs. And we have seen that over and over again when they try. All it generally does is breed more hostility.

Steve Crisp
July 4, 2008 12:13 p.m.

msfate- I'm guessing you were a close personal friend of Senator Helms to know he held those views to his death?? People can't change, I guess.

wcnc
July 4, 2008 12:13 p.m.

For those calling Helms a racists because he was for segregation......How many people on these boards complain about the school board and forced busing???? So, now we're all racists, I guess. No, we just realize that we should accept all people as people, not for their color, but that the government shouldn't tell people where they should be at any given time. There were ways to accomplish the theory of desegregation without forcing people to go where they didn't want to....That may have made the racist feelings boil over even more!!

wcnc
July 4, 2008 12:15 p.m.

Steve- So you agree that blacks should have come over here against there will be put into slavery, raped by the white "massa" have their bi-racial babies but not be good enough to mix with the white folks.

WCNC- You darn right I don't believe he ever changed.

msfate
July 4, 2008 12:17 p.m.

At this time of the passing of a great conservative politician that stood up for all conservative values. And now to hear all the liberals’ yahooing, high fiveing at his death. Yet you have Ted Kennedy who has no morals at all and has done so much wrong for this country in his extended stay in the senate. Is held up on such a pedestal as a great politician. It is just sad to see the road that the liberals are forcing this country down. The sooner that Ted (Chappaquiddick) Kennedy is out of the way the better.

Reb3Flag
GOLO member since October 30, 2007
July 4, 2008 12:18 p.m.

Tmedlin- For those that say his name and start choking. I'll perform the HM and save them as long as they are not racist. We know Jesse's not choking.

msfate
July 4, 2008 12:19 p.m.

Come on now people. Jesie stood for what he believed...but he always showed respect.

blackdog
July 4, 2008 12:19 p.m.

"I'm guessing you were a close personal friend of Senator Helms to know he held those views to his death?? People can't change, I guess."

But aren't they lauding him for never changing? (just asking)

Personally? No, I don't believe he ever did. I believe he went to his grave holding the same white supremacist views that he spoke so frequently about on the air (before it became unpopular to do so.) Those will be his sins to answer for to someone else besides me.

danriverboy has left da building
GOLO member since June 10, 2008
July 4, 2008 12:19 p.m.

msfate:

No, I don not believe in slavery, that the white man should have involuntarily forced blacks to come here from Africa and work. But I also do not believe that black tribal leaders in Africa should have rounded up those blacks and sold them to the Dutch and Portugese so that they were avialable for use as slaves.

Nor do I beleive that slavery should continue to exist among black populations in Africa to this very day.

Steve Crisp
July 4, 2008 12:19 p.m.

Slavery was a bad thing.I believe reparations PLUS interest should be paid.We dont need any stimulus payments, we need REPARATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DrunkSober
GOLO member since September 3, 2007
July 4, 2008 12:22 p.m.

He was an evil man. He encourage hate and lacked compation.

calken
July 4, 2008 12:22 p.m.

drunksober - why don't you just send us a bill...pfft If you need reparations, you wouldn't have the sense to spend it wisely.

tmedlin
GOLO member since August 22, 2007
July 4, 2008 12:23 p.m.

DrunkSober - I think you need to look outside your window as someone is stealing your tricycle (in other words, grow up and at least try to act a little mature).

jesmyopinion
GOLO member since March 3, 2008
July 4, 2008 12:27 p.m.

And drunksober, I'm certain that some of those racist blacks in their voluntarily segregated black churches will indeed hold hate sessions this Sunday.

Steve Crisp
July 4, 2008 12:28 p.m.

An era of honesty in politics is over with his passing. Senator Helms was in his political position b/c of personal beliefs and not just for personal gain. I worked at Dorothea Dix Hospital and always referred clients or their family members to his office after no answer could be given by state/local/federal government because the constituency office Sen. Helms operated at all times responded to inquiries. May the day soon come when the pain of his passing is gone and only the good memories remain.

lfbkt
July 4, 2008 12:28 p.m.

no matter what you persona opinion of Jesse Helms, at least he stood for what he believed in and didn't back down. Unlike some wishy washy, don't have a back bone politicians that I could name but won't. Jesse Helms didn't flow with whatever the popular opinion of the day happened to be . If he said it, he stood behind it. I didn't agree with all he stood for, like I don't agree with all anyone stands for, that's the great thing about all of us, none of us are alike and we agree on some things and disagree on others. But you have to respect someone that takes a stand and stays there.

It's a shame when someone dies that they can not be afforded some level of respect, even if you didn't like what they stood for. Shame on the one that are "dancing on his grave"

NCMOMof3
GOLO member since July 20, 2007
July 4, 2008 12:30 p.m.

God bless ya Jesse! Please watch down and guide our politicians.

Reb3Flag
GOLO member since October 30, 2007
July 4, 2008 12:30 p.m.

Yep. When you have no leg to stand on, just compare a conservative with Hitler.

Steve Crisp
July 4, 2008 12:33 p.m.

page 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 \| 5
<prev	next>

sort order: oldest first | newest first

Please log in to add comment.

top-voted stories

(2 votes) poll: people don't trust politicians

(2 votes) dudley man charged with first-degree sex offense against a child

(1 votes) girl's death could impact state programs to protect children

most recent

blogs

profiles

groups

popular

bikers are good people too! get to know them

...

have you seen those crazy-blonde tar-szhay commercials?

They're pretty funny. Target's got a better marketing dept.

former police officer charged with drug trafficking

WHITEVILLE - A law enforcement veteran who...

gobble gobble you all!

One of my neighbors is seriously into decorating geese. This is her latest Thanksgiving display. After...

donnie osmond wins dancing with the stars competition!

Are you kidding me? Mya was the best of them all, it has to be rigged. What do you think?

report: 18 counties have poverty levels above 20 percent

The highest percentage was in Robeson County, where nearly 31 percent of residents lived poverty in...

the wilding of sarah palin

By Robin of BerkeleyWhen...

stories from a challenged senior...

I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry...

speak up, patriots! a great american hero!

...

stunning tribute to a great man

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1116568005636&ref=mf This...

show more ...

blogs

galleries

profiles

groups

popular

click to embiggen

con amor's gifs

Jake Wildstar

ied training

Marissa

me!

Fall

for spent

Matthew Karate Testing 11-20-09

matthew karate testing 11-20-09

Masuimi

my new puppy "suimi"

strange engine noises

bonsai and trainers

show more ...

blogs

profiles

groups

popular

profile of cokacolasis

fry the child killers and rapist, do not let them lay up in prison for years and years, while we the taxpayers pay for the room and board. take my money and crank up sparky!

profile of bellacullen

hi

profile of rangerdavid

Gun totin left wing liberal vegitarian

profile of faye prosser - smart shopper

My goal is to help everyone live more comfortably within their means. I love to spread the...

profile of js_2

Too busy.

profile of divamomof4

Happiness comes from within...

profile of mdeans

I cannot believe a personal statement is required.

profile of mzcole

Live, Laugh, and Love!!

profile of michellerani2000

Hi my name is Michelle

profile of themediator

I tell it like it is.

show more ...

blogs

profiles

groups

popular

privately public (7 members)

A Public Group for Blogging for "Friends Only" profiles. This group...

golo happy birthday club (26 members)

1/8 - justafella 2/2 - sandlapper 2/9 - Sue Donym 2/10-Pom...

therustybucketkidsclub (3 members)

Fans of The Rusty Bucket Kids Club, as well as cast and crew share the fun and the joy the movie and music are bringing to the community.

the book club (17 members)

This group is for those that would like to get involved with monthly readings, or readings at your...

veterans affairs-are you a vfw (2 members)

OK, lets hear from all our proud Veterans here in Golo land! What branch of service were/are...

unemployed goloers corporation (10 members)

The unemployed Goloers Corporation is a newly formed corporation that contains the skills of all people...

motivation for weight loss (4 members)

If you want to lose weight or have already lost the weight.. we need each other to inspire each other to reach the determined goal..

golo weight loss buddy group (9 members)

This group is for anyone (male or female) interested in "buddying up" with...

crew the raccoon (1 member)

Fans, volunteers and freinds of the Peak City Film Festival in historic downtown Apex, NC, November 20, 21, 22 2009.

the throne of wisdom (12 members)

show more ...

blogs

profiles

groups

popular

do you think this happens on golo? lol

1.Stir the pot Someone who...

my sick kitty cat... has anybody ever had to go thru this??

Well, my kitty Chatty is sick. He is a 5 yr old neutured male. I thought he had a urinary trac...

the who sings tofu

You think Turkey day and me go together You think I taste pretty much like leather ...

the wilding of sarah palin

By Robin of BerkeleyWhen...

you people can't be serious

I was thinking about buying my son a female boxer for Christmas but I am in shock about how much a...

father of the year award

"Minnesota man, 56, is facing child endangerment and drunk driving charges...

speak up, patriots! a great american hero!

...

stunning tribute to a great man

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1116568005636&ref=mf This...

show more ...