Conservative Sen. Jesse Helms, 86, a truly great American and champion of freedom, died at 1:15 a.m. today. Helms, who gave our country three decades of service as a U.S. senator from North Carolina, was ill in recent years.
Heritage President Ed Feulner (pictured at right with Helms and his wife Dorothy) presented Helms in 2002 with the Clare Boothe Luce Award, Heritage’s highest honor, calling him a “dedicated, unflinching and articulate advocate of conservative policy and principle.”
In response to today’s sad news, Feulner offered this statement:
Jesse Helms was one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century. Along with Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, he helped establish the conservative movement and became a powerful voice for free markets and free people. The defeat of Soviet communism and the rise of Ronald Reagan would not have happened without his intrepid leadership at decisive times. July 4, 2008, like July 4, 1826, and July 4, 1831, will long be remembered as a very special day in the history of American independence. On the Fourth of July 1826, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died. On the Fourth of July 1831, James Monroe died. On the Fourth of July 2008, another great American patriot, Jesse Helms, died. He was the longest serving U.S. senator from North Carolina and a great friend to The Heritage Foundation. Although America has lost a great Patriot, his legacy will live on.
UPDATE — 12:28 p.m.: Reflections on Helms’ life are pouring in. Ben Domenech has written a wonderful post on RedState, and I’ve offered a few thoughts on my personal blog.
UPDATE — 6:40 p.m.: Heritage’s Ed Meese, former U.S. attorney general in the Reagan administration, offered these remarks in remembrance of Helms.
Jesse Helms.
Former United States senator from North Carolina Jesse Helms has died today at the age of 86 after a long battle with vascular dementia.

"Jesse Helms was one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century. Along with Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, he helped establish the conservative movement and became a powerful voice for free markets and free people," said Ed Feulner, president of the Heritage Foundation.

Helms was born Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. on October 18, 1921 in Monroe, North Carolina. He was a five term senator for N.C. and was also a former Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman. He also became the first U.S. lawmaker to speak in front of the United Nations Security Council.

Helms opposed the use of American troops in Bosnia saying "I will not support sending American soldiers to fight and to die for the sake of an agreement not yet reached which may offer no more than the promise of a brief pause while all sides prepare for the next round of Balkan wars."

In 2002, Helms received the Clare Boothe Luce Award, which is the foundation's highest award.  The Foundation stated, "Helms is dedicated, unflinching and articulate advocate of conservative policy and principle."

At various times throughout his career Helms created controversy with his ties to Salvadoran death squad leader Roberto D'Aubuisson, his unflinching support of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, and statements viewed by some as racist and homophobic.