Biography
Senator Jesse Helms served for thirty years in the United States Senate and retired from the Senate at the end of 2002. He is considered one of the most influential individuals in American government and has received scores of awards for his distinguished service to his state, his country and freedom loving peoples around the world.
Senator Helms was born in Monroe, North Carolina on October 18, 1921. His family and his teachers taught lessons that laid the foundation for a commitment to hard work and excellence. It was also in Monroe that Senator Helms had his first opportunities to work in a newspaper and begin his career in communications.
The Senator attended both Wingate University and Wake Forest University. His first full time job out of college was as a sports reporter with the Raleigh News and Observer. It was there that he met Dorothy Coble, who was the society reporter. They were married in October of 1942 when Senator Helms returned from Naval training in San Diego. The Senator had enlisted in the Navy at the start of World War II and was assigned to the recruiting command following training.
Following the war the Senator returned to Raleigh and to a new job as the news editor for the Raleigh Times. He left the newspaper for his first job in broadcasting and established one of the first local news operations on radio in the U.S.
By the mid-60's Senator Helms was the executive vice president for Capitol Broadcasting in Raleigh where he directed an outstanding news operation and personally delivered a daily editorial comment from the station's editorial board. These commentaries were aired on radio over the Tobacco Network the following day and Jesse Helms became a well know voice around the Carolinas and beyond. It was at the request of many of those listeners and several close friends that Senator Helms agreed to accept the challenge of running for the US Senate. His election in 1972 marked the first time since Reconstruction that a Republican had won any statewide election in North Carolina.
As a US Senator he was a leader in the rise of the modern conservative movement, a trailblazer for men and women who wanted to see their government return to its proper role and turn away from too many taxes and too many giveaways. Senator Helms was one of a handful of conservative lawmakers in 1972, but by the time of his retirement he was a respected member of a group of conservative leaders whose efforts led to significant changes in national policy from welfare reform to strong national defense.
Throughout his life Senator Helms made the cause of freedom a priority, particularly in the years he served as Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. At the same time he held firm to his dedication to uphold the traditional moral values that are embraced by most Americans. From his fearless stand against government funded pornography and his support of the rights of the unborn to his defense of the rights and reputation of the Boy Scouts of America, Senator Helms has never turned aside from doing what is right, no matter how many stood with him or how much criticism he might have leveled against him.
Now living in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife and best friend, Dorothy Coble Helms, and close to his children and grandchildren, Senator Helms remains busy with projects for the Jesse Helms Center and has recently completed his memoirs, which will be published by Random House.
For a printer friendly version of Senator Helms bio, click on this link (back to top)
Education
Helms attended Wingate (NC) Junior College and Wake Forest College. He holds honorary Doctor of Law degrees from many universities including, Bob Jones University, Grove City College, Campbell University, and Wingate University.
(back to top)
Family
He is married to the former Dorothy Jane Coble of Raleigh. He is the father of three children: Jane (Mrs. Charles R. Knox), Nancy (Mrs. Randy Grigg) of Chapel Hill and Charles of Winston-Salem, and has seven grandchildren.
(back to top)
Before Politics
During World War II Helms served in the United States Navy. Upon leaving the Navy, Helms held numerous positions in numerous fields. These included serving as the Director of the North Carolina Cerebral Palsy Hospital in Durham, the Director of the United Cerebral Palsy of North Carolina, the Director of the Wake County Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Center in Raleigh, serving on the Board of Trustees of Meredith College, John F. Kennedy College, Campbell University and Wingate College. He served as a deacon and a Sunday School teacher at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh and was one of the founders and serves as a director of Camp Willow Run, a Youth Camp for Christ at Littleton, North Carolina. From 1953 through 1960, Helms was Executive Director of the North Carolina Bankers Association.
In addition, he had an affinity for positions in journalism and broadcasting. These positions included the city editor of The Raleigh Times, the Director of News and Programs for the Tobacco Radio Network and Radio Station WRAL in Raleigh, and the editor of the Tarheel Banker. In 1952, Helms directed the radio-television division of the presidential campaign of Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr. of Georgia, who was seeking the United States Democratic Party nomination. He went on to become the Executive Vice President, Vice Chairman of the Board and assistant Chief Executive Officer of Capitol Broadcasting Company, Raleigh, North Carolina, from 1960 until his election to the Senate.
He also wrote and presented daily editorials on WRAL-TV and the Tobacco Radio Network. His editorials were printed regularly in more than 200 newspapers throughout the United States. They were broadcast by more than 70 radio stations in North Carolina. (back to top)
Senate Career
Helms began his first term in the Senate in January 1973; was reelected to a second term on November 7, 1978; to a third term on November 6, 1984; a fourth term on November 6, 1990; and a fifth term on November 7, 1996. Helms retired on January 3, 2003. His seat was taken by Elizabeth Dole, former president of the Red Cross, presidential cabinet member, and 2000 presidential candidate.
Helms is noted as a staunch conservative and as a rigid anti-Communist. (back to top)
After Politics
Since retiring from the Senate in January 2003, Helms has continued working with the Jesse Helms Center in Wingate, North Carolina. In August, 2005, Random House published Here's Where I Stand, a personal memoir. (back to top)
Awards and Achievements
A Listing of some of the Awards and Special Honors given to Senator Jesse Helms
- Honorary Doctor of Law Degrees awarded from Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina and Grove City College, Grove City, Pennsylvania
- Honorary Degrees awarded from Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina and Wingate University, Wingate, North Carolina
- North Carolina Press Association Award
- Freedoms Foundation Award
- Golden Gavel
- Nominated for Vice President of the United States
- Gold Medal of Merit from the Veterans of Foreign Wars
- North Carolina American Legionnaire Award
- Legislator of the Year Award
- National Man of the Year
- American Security Council Award
- Conservative Caucus 97th Congress Statesman Award
- Golden Eagle Award
- “Spirit of Enterprise ” Award
- Guardian of Small Business Award
- Watchdog of the Treasury Award
- Taxpayer's Best Friend Award
|
