[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 123 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S7475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING SENATOR JESSE HELMS

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to speak today about former Senator 
Jesse Helms, who passed away on July 4, 2008, at the age of 86. I knew 
Senator Helms well, and I am sure I am joined by many of my colleagues 
in saying that he will be missed.
  Senator Helms was born in Monroe, NC, in 1921. His first full-time 
job was as a sportswriter for the Raleigh Times. After serving as a 
recruiter for the U.S. Navy during World War II, Senator Helms became 
the city news editor for the Times before moving on to do journalistic 
work in both radio and television. In 1960, he began working at the 
Capitol Broadcasting Company in Raleigh as the executive vice 
president, vice chairman of the board, and assistant CEO. He became 
famous in his home State for his daily CBC editorials, which featured 
his now-famous southern anecdotes occasionally laced with his sometimes 
provocative political views.
  Prior to coming to the Senate, Senator Helms' only political 
experience consisted of two terms on the Raleigh City Council. However, 
in 1972, Senator Helms became the first Republican Senator elected from 
North Carolina in the 20th century, replacing the retiring Senator B. 
Everett Jordan.
  During his three-decade tenure in the Senate, Jesse became known as 
one of the Chamber's staunchest conservatives. His refusal to 
compromise on his beliefs was the source of both his greatest strength 
as a legislator and, as I am sure some would argue, his greatest 
weakness. Indeed, I don't think there are any of us who served 
alongside Senator Helms who did not, at one time or another, find 
themselves in a disagreement with him.
  However, while I didn't always agree with Jesse, I do have a number 
of fond personal memories of him.
  For example, when I first came to the Senate in 1977, Senator Helms 
was nearing the end of his first term. About 3 months into that first 
session, still becoming acclimated to life in the Senate, I took a few 
moments to write down some of my early impressions of my fellow 
Senators. About Jesse, I wrote that he was ``one of the dearest people 
in the Senate,'' and that he had always treated me with kindness and 
respect. I also noticed that, despite having a reputation for being an 
unmovable conservative, he had a knowledge of parliamentary procedure 
and tactics that was virtually unmatched.
  A couple years later, I witnessed this knowledge first-hand when 
Senator Helms and I found ourselves on the same side of the debate over 
what was being called a ``labor reform'' bill. Sadly, as I was working 
with a number of my colleagues to sustain a filibuster against this 
unabashedly radically liberal pro-union legislation, our friend Senator 
James Allen passed away. While we were all saddened by the loss of our 
dear friend, at the back of our minds we were worried that, without 
Senator Allen's mastery of Senate procedure, our efforts might fail. 
However, Senator Helms stepped up and provided much needed insight, 
helping us to block this harmful legislation. At one point during this 
debate, while many of us were worried about the strength of the 
filibuster, Senator Helms assured us, saying that we would keep the 
necessary Senators on the floor ``if they have to wear their pajamas 
and bedroom slippers.''
  I believe we were all surprised during the latter part of Senator 
Helms' tenure when he coauthored the landmark 2002 legislation 
authorizing funds that were, at that time, unparalleled for 
international AIDS relief. Many of his colleagues, including myself, 
had sparred with Jesse over providing support for AIDS relief and 
research. But, in those last few months of his Senate career, I believe 
he showed the world that, while he wasn't always the most agreeable of 
politicians, he was a compassionate man who was committed to doing what 
he thought was right.
  Mr. President, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the Helms 
family. As I said, Jesse and I did not always agree on the issues 
before the Senate, but I can say, without reservation, that he was a 
dedicated public servant and dear friend to those of us who knew him 
well.

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