Political brass mourn Helms

U.S. senators joined hundreds of other mourners who paid their respects Tuesday at the funeral of former Sen. Jesse Helms, a five-term Republican who died on the Fourth of July.

Mr. Helms’ family sat in the front pews of the packed 800-seat sanctuary at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh, where Mr. Helms worshipped for decades and served as a deacon. A bipartisan group of federal and state officials listened during a service that lasted nearly an hour and a half as friends and family recalled the conservative icon, who inspired both love and disdain for his strong views.

“Kentucky Republican, said from the pulpit. “He put duty above all else - duty to God, to country, to family … the simple duty of treating other people well.”

Mr. Helms died at age 86 after years of declining health.

Sen. Richard M. Burr, also a Republican, sat nearby.

Sens. Arizona, also was on hand as others gathered to watch the funeral service remotely from a church gym.

Jimmy Broughton, Mr. Helms’ former chief of staff, recalled for the crowd how a woman from Raleigh needed help with Social Security benefits. Her neighbor, a Democrat, couldn’t help her with the problem but advised her to call Mr. Helms for help.

The neighbor told her, “I despise [him], but I think it’s high time you call Jesse Helms,” Mr. Broughton said, drawing laughter.

The coffin of Mr. Helms, who served in the Senate from 1973 to 2003, was covered with a U.S. flag as the front of the sanctuary was decorated with flowers sent by U.S. senators and a painting of Mr. Helms at work. Choir members in red silk robes stood behind friends and family who spoke during the service.

Mr. Cheney did not speak at the funeral nor issue any statements to reporters. But his spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride, said, “The vice president went just to pay his respects and spend some time with the family.”

Mr. Helms won his first election in 1972 after a career in newspaper, radio and television commentaries and rose to become a powerful committee chairman.

Mr. Helms is remembered by many for his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and was considered a polarizing figure both at home and in Washington.

He never lost a political race, but his margin of victory was never large. In the Senate, he forced roll-call votes that required Democrats to take politically difficult votes on cultural issues, such as federal funding for art he deemed pornographic, school busing and flag-burning.