I met Jesse Helms when I flew a charter booked by him at a last minute notice. The passengers were Helms, Henry Kissenger, and Elizabeth Dole. We were flying one of them to Minnesota for specialized cancer treatment. The other two were accompanying their friend for encouragement and support. (p)That was in 1995.
I had the honor of meeting the senator when he spoke at CPAC in 1986. This was just days after the Challenger accident and he spoke very movingly about the memorial service he had attended in Houston the day before. He talked about the daughter of his fellow North Carolinian Mike Smith, copilot of the shuttle. “His little girl was clutching her teddy hear. She missed her daddy because he was gone, but he’s not really gone. He’ll live forever as long as she remembers him.” I nearly wept then and could burst into tears when I think of it now....
He then compared the accidental loss of the shuttle with the willful, deliberate mass murder by the Soviets of Korean Airlines flight 7. You can imagine the passion in his voice. Too bad not every Republican senator had the same attitude about the USSR.
After he spoke I was part of the crowd trying to shake his hand. I told him how his words had moved me and he said he would continue to be very supportive of the space program. I was so pleased I had a chance to meet him.
That little story confirms, even more, the fact that Senator Helms was a Christian gentleman of the first order. He was a caring, loving friend in time of need to many many people.
I think it is quite wonderful that WRAL gave “birth” to Jesse Helms’ popularity by hosting his editorials......and then, as WRAL became “taken over” by the corrupt leftists that run NC government now through the party of death, destruction and defeat - their reporting of the Senator’s death (see the story at wral.com) is so full of (expected) distortions and mischaracterizations of this great man (HE was polarizing, racist, backward).....
Yet, guess what, WRAL editorialists......news director....news writers:
WE LOVE JESSE HELMS in North Carolina!
He was elected to time after time after time - serving longer than any other Senator from NC in US History! The people of North Carolina LOVED Jesse Helms!
And through his service and his tenacious stands for what is right and good - leading to the election of President Ronald Reagan and the freedom for millions who suffered so long under communist rule among other victories for freedom - the WORLD LOVED SENATOR HELMS! Rather the good freedom loving people of the world loved him! While the enslaving totalitarians of the world loathed him....
And no rewriting of history you can do will change that!
So, thank you WRAL TV for GIVING THE WORLD JESSE HELMS!