[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16201]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING SENATOR JESSE HELMS

  Mr. CORKER. Mr. Presdient, today we remember and celebrate the life 
of the great Senator from North Carolina, Jesse Helms.
  Senator Helms dedicated much of his life to serving his country and 
the people of North Carolina. He developed a lasting legacy as a man 
who held to his convictions and championed the causes he believed in so 
deeply.
  He began his career in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he 
was assigned as a recruiter. After the war, he became involved in North 
Carolina politics and campaigned for Senator Willis Smith, later 
serving on his staff. Senator Helms continued to establish himself, 
working as a political commentator for local Raleigh newspapers and 
radio stations. In 1957, Senator Helms was elected to the Raleigh city 
council, where he served with the same conviction that he would later 
bring to the Senate.
  He was first elected to the Senate in 1972 and was reelected four 
more times, making him the longest serving U.S. Senator in North 
Carolina history. He quickly became known for his unfailing dedication 
to uphold traditional American values and protect freedom. He said, 
``The challenge is always before us. Whenever we lose sight of the 
principles that mattered to our founders we run into trouble.''
  During his tenure in the Senate, Helms served on the Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee and was chairman from 1995 to 2001. Under his 
leadership, the committee played a powerful role in setting U.S. 
foreign policy.
  Senator Helms will be greatly missed and remembered as one of the 
most influential Senators of his time.

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