“Anyone can cry ‘crocodile tears,’ right? Anyone can say, ‘Yes, I understand.’ You leave the office and that’s the end of it. This man went to work. He really went to work.” These are the words of Paul Hewson, “Bono,” speaking of Jesse Helms working to fund AIDS drugs for Africa. With the passing on July 4 of Jesse Helms “Senator No,” there has been much talk about Helms and Hate and much Hate directed at Helms. I watched Senator No on UNC-TV, a 90 minute documentary film about Helms that included those who where for him and against him along with the lead singer in the Irish Rock Band U2 quoted above. I thought I would write a few words. From a purely historical perspective or simply why he is important historically. Helms was the first Republican elected to statewide office in North Carolina since the end of Reconstruction. He was innovative in that he was one of the first to use direct mail to build up his political machine “The North Carolina Congressional Club” and raise millions of dollars. Helms used the negative campaign commercial in ways never before seen and are now sadly are commonplace especially in using code words and stereotypes to sway voters. In a state that was predominantly Democrat in voter registration, he never lost an election for Senate serving longer than anyone in North Carolina history. In 1976, when Ronald Reagan was floundering against Gerald Ford in the Republican primaries, Helms took over Reagan’s primary campaign and won in North Carolina causing a wave of momentum that ressurected Reagan’s presidentail aspirations. Many believe this saved Reagan’s career that resulted in him trouncing Jimmy Carter four years later. Fourth, Helms got white, southern, protestant Christians involved in politics. For years, African-American churches were the center of political activity within the Black community. Helms used this vehicle to mobilize his forces including people such as Jerry Falwell and the “Moral Majority.” Now, you may not see any or all of this as good, but the fact is Helms was at the center of these efforts that changed the political landscape of America. People not from North Carolina never understand why Helms could win usually with 54-55% of the vote. Well, it is very simple. I lived in North Carolina while he was Senator and I remember that when Helms came up there was no gray area. You never wondered where Helms stood on an issue. There was no changing position because of a poll ala Bill Clinton or flip-flopping as Obama and McCain have been doing of late. Love him or hate him, you knew where Helms stood and many people liked that in him. Helms staff was famous for responding to the people of North Carolina who contacted his office with personal needs. Even Democrats in the documentary admit that. He knew how to connect to the common white men and women of North Carolina. Now, Helms in my opinion was not very effective from a legislative perspective. He was a rabble rouser, but he did start a movement that brought more conservatives to congress and the election of Reagan. He was a thorn in the side of Reagan’s administration as well as Democrats. There is no doubt that Helms used race in his campaigns and for that he is reviled in the media, liberal circles and by some of his supporters who thought he could do better. Race was not the only weapon he used. The negative campaign commercial was an important weapon, but in debate Helms was a fierce opponent. In 1984, I remember well the campaign between Helms and very popular two term, now four term, Governor James B. Hunt. I remember most importantly the debate when Helms looked Hunt in the eye and said, “Governor, Which War Did You Serve In?” Hunt avoided Vietnam due to college deferment. Helms served as a recruiting officer in World War Two. Helms shook Hunt up so badly in the debate that I believe that moment and Hunt’s reaction turned that campaign. Hunt, I believe, would have run for President eventually and possibly Vice-President in 1986 had he won that Senate campaign. Instead, Hunt ran again for Governor of North Carolina and served longer than any other person in that office, but he never ran for Senate again or took on Jesse Helms. Since his death on July 4 many people spoke of the personal kindness of Helms in contrast to the public man who was against abortion, homosexuals, the State Department, communists and liberals. Delaware Senator Joe Biden describes Helms as his friend in the documentary. Helms did not have a live microphone incident such as Jesse Jackson, a primary target of Helms, did this past week. Jesse Helms spoke in code and he never stopped talking, but he never used the N-word, did a Trent Lott nor do I think he would care. I think Helms is a perfect example of the old cliché that Southerners like African-Americans as individuals, but not as a group. He believed what he learned in Monroe, North Carolina, and the Baptist church he grew up in and that did not change. Helms worked in radio, newspapers, television and as a magazine editor. He served as Raleigh City Council and as chief of staff to North Carolina Senator Willis Smith in Washington. Helms knew the system and how to use the airwaves and written word to get out his message. He knew how to make contact with the average person in North Carolina. Finally, that leads me to where I started with Bono and Senator No. During Helms last term in the Senate, Paul Hewson made an appointment to visit Helms. Bono appealed to Helms as a Christian to help the poor people of Africa quoting multiple verses of the Bible. Now, it is no secret that I like Bono and U2’s music, but another thing I like about him is that unlike most celebrities who take on a cause, Bono knows what he is talking about. Bono, I believe, takes the good works idea to the extreme, but I doubt he does it for personal gain. He did something no Democrat could ever do. He got Jesse Helms to supporting funding for AIDS drugs in Africa. Jesse Helms was not just the simple minded bigot that most liberals portray. He was a complex personality, but he was not a complex person. Historically, he will be one of the most important historical figures from North Carolina. Below is a link about the documentary “Senator No” that aired ironically on the UNC-TV. Helms criticism of the university was a centerpiece of his political agenda from when he worked on the campaign of Willis Smith, who defeated former UNC President Frank Graham in the 1950 Senate Race. http://www.unctv.org/senatorno/index1.html www.jessehelmscenter.org/
