Conservative Icon Jesse Helms Dies

Former Senator Jesse A. Helms, Jr., died today after a "period of declining health," according to a spokesman. He was 86.

He was born on October 18, 1921. He served in the US Senate from 1972-2003, after which he retired. During his Senate career, he was an outspoken, controversial figure. His name is synonymous with "Old South"-style politics.

The New York Times had this reaction, from former Senator Bob Dole:

"He was a conservative icon," Bob Dole, the former senator and Republican presidential candidate, said in an interview on CNN. "He was a good, decent human being."

But Mr. Dole, known for his wry sense of humor, acknowledged that Mr. Helms was not universally admired on Capitol Hill. "If there was a liberal meeting going on and someone announced that Jesse Helms was coming, the place would have cleared out in 20 seconds," he joked. He added that although he disagreed with Mr. Helms on civil rights, he did not consider the senator to be a bigot. "Was Jesse Helms a racist? I never spotted that in him," Mr. Dole said. "Jesse had black staff members. I could never quite figure it out."

MSNBC had this:


Helms was also well-known for his 1990 "Hands" ad, whose creator is consulting for the GOP in this year's election:



Finally, here's Fox News' take on the life and passing of Senator Helms: