Jesse Helms

Jesse Helms (October 18, 1921 - July 4, 2008) was a Senator from North Carolina. He was also the longest serving senator from that state, serving five terms. He opposed school integration, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, interracial marriage, civil rights, feminism, gay rights, disability rights, affirmative action, tax increases, abortion, the United Nations, foreign aid, communism, and giving government money to art that had nudity in it. This gave him the nickname 'Senator No'.  He and Strom Thurmond were leaders of the extreme conservatives (people who believe very strongly in right-wing beliefs).  Before being a Senator, he was a writer.

Death
He had many problems with his health, including prostate cancer and Paget's disease. He remained in poor health after retirement. He began to have failing memory and confusion. At last, he was moved to a nursing home near his home in Raleigh, North Carolina On July 4, 2008, Helms died of vascular dementia at the age of 86.  He is buried in Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina.

References

Category:1921 births
Category:2008 deaths
Category:American activists
Category:American Baptists
Category:Anti-communists
Category:Anti-LGBT rights activists
Category:Deaths from vascular dementia
Category:Disease-related deaths in North Carolina
Category:Politicians from Raleigh, North Carolina
Category:United States senators from North Carolina
Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians
Category:Writers from Raleigh, North Carolina