Jesse Helms Quotes
I became a Republican when a very wise young lady asked me how I could remain a Democrat when I didn't agree with what they stood for and did agree with what the Republicans supported.
Helms, Jesse. Interview with The North Carolina Conservative, Aug. 2004.
He like many other Americans had become dissatisfied with the religious, right wing fundamentalist ideology of the George W. Bush administration and the Republicans who controlled Congress until the election of 2006.
The Federalist party had evolved into the Whig Party, his opposition. However, Polk used “Federalist” to designate all conservatives, Whigs or the Federalists who were the precursor conservative party in America.
“Republicans” then referred to strong opponents of not only monarchy, but opposed a strong Presidency and federal government. The Federalists who supported John Adams for reelection to a 2nd term, were trounced so badly that it was the end of the Federalist Party. Their attacks on Jefferson had been particularly vicious with the hyperpartisanship as bad as in the early years of the 21st century. Jefferson tried to unify the nation with this quotation. It helped but there was still much bitterness.
Jesse Alexander Helms Jr. was an American journalist, media executive, and politician. A leader in the conservative movement, he served as a senator from North Carolina from 1973 to 2003. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001 he had a major voice in foreign policy. Helms helped organize and fund the conservative resurgence in the 1970s, focusing on Ronald Reagan's quest for the White House as well as helping many local and regional candidates.
