US Senator. He attended Wingate Junior College and Wake Forest College and served in the United States Navy during World War II. He then became City Editor of the "Raleigh Times", and later worked as News Director for Raleigh's WRAL TV and radio. From 1951 to 1953 he was Administrative Assistant to Senators Willis Smith and Alton Lennon. Helms was Executive Director of the North Carolina Bankers Association from 1953 to 1960, and served on the Raleigh City Council from 1957 to 1961. From 1960 to 1972 he did political commentary on WRAL and the Tobacco Radio Network. Originally a Democrat, Helms changed parties in 1970, and in 1972 was the successful Republican nominee for US Senator. He was reelected four times and served from January, 1973 to January, 2003. During his Senate career Helms was Chairman of the Committees on Agriculture and Foreign Relations. Like many southern politicians of the 1950s and 1960s, he started as a segregationist, but later claimed to have moderated his views. Helms earned the nickname "Senator No" for refusing to compromise his right wing views on fighting communism, opposing feminism, and ending affirmative action. After leaving the Senate, he founded the Jesse Helms Center, a non-profit organization that provides programs designed to promote his conservative principles. In his later years he battled prostate cancer and heart disease and was confined to a wheelchair.
US Senator. He attended Wingate Junior College and Wake Forest College and served in the United States Navy during World War II. He then became City Editor of the "Raleigh Times", and later worked as News Director for Raleigh's WRAL TV and radio. From 1951 to 1953 he was Administrative Assistant to Senators Willis Smith and Alton Lennon. Helms was Executive Director of the North Carolina Bankers Association from 1953 to 1960, and served on the Raleigh City Council from 1957 to 1961. From 1960 to 1972 he did political commentary on WRAL and the Tobacco Radio Network. Originally a Democrat, Helms changed parties in 1970, and in 1972 was the successful Republican nominee for US Senator. He was reelected four times and served from January, 1973 to January, 2003. During his Senate career Helms was Chairman of the Committees on Agriculture and Foreign Relations. Like many southern politicians of the 1950s and 1960s, he started as a segregationist, but later claimed to have moderated his views. Helms earned the nickname "Senator No" for refusing to compromise his right wing views on fighting communism, opposing feminism, and ending affirmative action. After leaving the Senate, he founded the Jesse Helms Center, a non-profit organization that provides programs designed to promote his conservative principles. In his later years he battled prostate cancer and heart disease and was confined to a wheelchair.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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