Helms Center Marks 10th Anniversary of Historic Speech

On January 20, 2000, history was made in the U.N. when Senator Jesse Helms became the first legislator from any member state to address the U.N. Security Council.

This groundbreaking opportunity was given to U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, at the successful conclusion of negotiations to assure a commitment from the U.N. to undertake operational reforms in order to receive funding which the U.S. Congress had withheld pending reform. This effort was a partnership with then Senator Joe Biden and became known as the Helms-Biden agreement.

Senator Helms’ speech before a packed chamber reverberated around the world as a headline story. Reporters, accustomed to the typical delivery of the diplomatic corps of the time, were shocked by the Senator’s direct approach, some labeling it belligerent, even combative.  What they could not deny was that it was effective, resulting in a majority vote by the U.N. to agree without change to the plan Sens. Helms and Biden presented on behalf of the U.S. Congress.  Furthermore, on this date Senator Helms invited the members of the Security Council to come to the U.S. Capitol as his guests to meet with members of Congress and learn about our nation’s legislative process. This historic meeting took place on March 30, 2000.

Today, the speech is included in a number of collections and referenced by both political figures and commentators. To access the landmark speech click here. And to learn more about Senator Helms' life and leadership during a three-decade career in the U.S. Senate, continue exploring jessehelms.com.

   Senator Helms' words on January 20, 2000, to the U.N. Security Council in New York, New York:

“…I want the American people to value a United Nations that recognizes and respects their interests, and for the United Nations to value the significant contributions of the American people. Let's be crystal clear and totally honest with each other: all of us want a more effective United Nations. But if the United Nations is to be `effective,' it must be an institution that is needed by the great democratic powers of the world.

"Most Americans do not regard the United Nations as an end in and of itself - they see it as just one part of America's diplomatic arsenal. To the extent that the UN is effective, the American people will support it. To the extent that it becomes ineffective - or even worse, a burden - the American people will cast it aside.

"The American people want the UN to serve the purpose for which it was designed: they want it to help sovereign states coordinate collective action by `coalitions of the willing' (where the political will for such action exists); they want it to provide a forum where diplomats can meet and open channels of communication in times of crisis; they want it to provide to the peoples of the world important services, such as peacekeeping, weapons inspections and humanitarian relief.

"This is important work. It is the core of what the UN can offer to the United States and the world. If, in the coming century, the UN focuses on doing these core tasks well, it can thrive and will earn and deserve the support of the American people...”

Senator Jesse Helms

October 18, 1921 - July 4, 2008     

Senator Jesse Helms was a man of courage, character, and strong convictions, who was in the mold of our founding fathers.  His memory is honored by family, friends, former staff members, world leaders and ordinary citizens who know the quality of his character and the depth of his commitment to freedom, faith, and family.

"There are two million people alive in Africa today, because Jesse Helms did the right thing."

    - Bono, musician         

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