[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15092-15093]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
                      HONORING SENATOR JESSE HELMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, this evening, I rise with a heavy heart to 
honor the life of former Senator Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr., of North 
Carolina. Senator Helms served from 1972 to 2002, 30 years in the 
United States Senate, tying the longest-serving Senator from North 
Carolina in that record.
  Senator Helms was known to most Americans as a rock-rib conservative, 
both committed to a smaller, more efficient government that taxes less 
and spends less, and also a social conservative who would stand up to 
the common society of the day that was allowing for many permissive 
activities.
  Senator Helms was much more than that, though. He was an ardent anti-
communist, and supported freedom around the world against the tyranny 
of communism. Senator Helms has a very distinguished record in the 
United States Senate spanning three decades.
  He was known as the strongest conservative in the United States 
Senate in his time, one of the best known American conservatives of his 
time. But what many people don't realize is that in 1976, just 4 years 
into his first term in the United States Senate, Senator Helms did a 
very bold thing, he endorsed Governor Ronald Reagan in his primary for 
President against Gerald Ford. Senator Helms was the only Senator to 
endorse Reagan in 1976.
  Although then-Governor Reagan had not won any primaries coming into 
the

[[Page 15093]]

North Carolina primary, Senator Helms put his full campaign 
organization behind Governor Reagan. And in an upset victory, Governor 
Reagan beat sitting President Gerald Ford in that Republican primary, 
the first primary that Reagan won in 1976.
  Historians note that without winning the North Carolina primary, 
Ronald Reagan may not have had the opportunity to be President in 1980. 
He may not have had the ability to continue his campaign going into the 
convention in 1976. So for Americans who know Reagan, they should thank 
Senator Helms and his bold move in endorsing Governor Reagan.
  Beyond that, in his final term in office, the world came to him. He 
didn't change his principles, he didn't change the things that he was 
focused on, but he took the opportunity to reform the U.N., working 
with Senator Joe Biden of Delaware. The Helms-Biden agreement called on 
the U.N. to reduce its budget and define its mission. It also forced a 
much-needed review of all U.N. policies. It was a large reform, and 
Senator Biden said at the time, ``Just as only Nixon could go to China, 
only Helms could fix the U.N.''
  Just after that in 2000, Helms was the first U.S. lawmaker to address 
the U.N. Security Council. That is an amazing tribute to his 
leadership. He was not simply ``Senator No,'' he was voted as the 
``Nicest Lawmaker in Congress.''
  What people know about him was the personal touch he had with people. 
My first political memory was in 1984 as a 9-year-old going to a Helms-
Reagan rally. That is my first political memory. Beyond that when I was 
a high school student, I stopped into Jesse Helms' office and he took a 
few minutes to sit and talk with me, take a picture with me at his 
desk, and showed me around his office. And I realized once I became a 
lawmaker how very short time is here on Capitol Hill, and for him to 
give me that moment is a special memory that I will always cherish.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with the Helms family, and his wife, 
Dot.
  At this time I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Hayes).
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of attending Senator 
Helms' funeral along with Congressman McHenry, Congressman Jones, 
Senator Biden, Senator Dodd, Senator Byrd, Senator Dole, and others. 
And there were two takeaways from that funeral that I particularly 
remember. One was directly from Senator Helms. He said, ``You can 
always change your priorities, but never change your principle.'' That 
was a hallmark.
  The other thing that the pastor said, ``The Lord always examines the 
heart of the giver before he examines the gift.'' Senator Helms' heart 
was with his constituents. His constituent service, regardless of 
party, was absolutely remarkable, and it was a tribute to him, his 
relationship with his wife, Dot, his family and his children.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Senator McConnell and Jimmy Broughton 
and the Helms family for the wonderful testimonial of his service to 
his country.

                          ____________________