Editing Jesse Helms (section)

==Second Senate term (1979–1985)==
===New Senate term===
On January 3, 1979, the first day of [[96th United States Congress|the new Congress]], Helms introduced a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion,<ref>{{cite news |first=Karen |last=De Witt |title=Abortion Foes March in Capital on Anniversary of Legalization |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 23, 1979 |page=C10 }}</ref> on which he led the conservative senators.<ref name="New Right Causes Pressed">{{cite news |first=Steven V. |last=Robert |author-link=Steven V. Roberts |title='New Right' Causes Pressed in Senate |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 1, 1979 |page=B12 }}</ref> Senator Helms was one of several Republican senators who in 1981 called into the White House to express his discontent over the nomination of [[Sandra Day O'Connor]] to the US Supreme Court; their opposition hinged over the issue of O'Connor's presumed unwillingness to overturn the ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' ruling.<ref>Greenburg, Jan Crawford. ''Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court.'' 2007. Penguin Books. Page 222.</ref> Helms was also the Senate conservatives' leader on [[school prayer]].<ref name="New Right Causes Pressed" /> An amendment proposed by Helms allowing voluntary prayer was passed by the Senate,<ref>{{cite news |first=Seth S. |last=King |title=Senate Again Approves Prayer Bill But Ties It to a Different Measure |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 10, 1979 |page=14 }}</ref> but died in the House committee.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stuart Jr. |last=Taylor |title=The Congress Vs. the Courts |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 16, 1981 |page=16 }}</ref> To that act, Helms also proposed an amendment banning [[sex education]] without written parental consent.<ref>{{cite news |first=Marjorie |last=Hunter |title=Education Department is Backed by Senate in a Victory for Carter |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 1, 1979 |page=B12 }}</ref> In 1979, Helms and Democrat [[Patrick Leahy]] supported a federal [[Taxpayer Bill of Rights]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Steven V. |last=Roberts |author-link=Steven V. Roberts |title=Democratic Senators Showing Fear on '80 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 22, 1979 |page=26 }}</ref>

He joined the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]], being one of four men critical of Carter who were new to the committee.<ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Reston |author-link=James Reston |title=A Strange Arms Debate |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 21, 1979 |page=E21 }}</ref> Leader of the pro-[[Taiwan]] congressional lobby,<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Ashford |title=Haig ready to discuss arms sales on Peking visit |work=[[The Times]] |page=9 |date=June 12, 1981 }}</ref> Helms demanded that the People's Republic of China reject the use of force against the [[Republic of China]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Bernard |last=Gwertzman|title=Teng, on Capitol Hill, Says Peking Must Keep Taiwan Options Open |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 31, 1979 |page=1 }}</ref> but, much to his shock, the Carter administration did not ask them to rule it out.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hedrick |last=Smith |author-link=Hedrick Smith |title=Carter's Leadership: Questions in Congress |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 17, 1979 |page=3 }}</ref>

Helms also criticized the government over [[Zimbabwe Rhodesia]], leading support for the [[Internal Settlement]] government<ref>{{cite news |title=Carter policy at stake in two Senate votes |work=[[The Times]] |page=7 |date=July 25, 1978 }}</ref> under [[Abel Muzorewa]], and campaigned along with [[Samuel Hayakawa]] for the immediate lifting of sanctions on Muzorewa's government.<ref>{{cite news |first=John F. |last=Burns |author-link=John F. Burns |title=New Battle in Rhodesia is for the Votes of the Blacks |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 21, 1979 |page=2 }}</ref> Helms complained that it was inconsistent to lift sanctions on [[Uganda]] immediately after [[Idi Amin]]'s departure, but not Zimbabwe Rhodesia after [[Ian Smith]]'s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate, Acting on Amin Ouster, Votes to Resume Uganda Trade |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 8, 1979 |page=6 }}</ref> Helms hosted Muzorewa when he visited Washington and met with Carter in July 1979.<ref>{{cite news |title=Carter Tells Muzorewa That U.S. Will Not Lift Rhodesian Sanctions |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 12, 1979 |page=8 }}</ref> He sent two aides to the [[Lancaster House Agreement|Lancaster House Conference]] because he did not "trust the State Department on this issue",<ref name=Reston1979>{{cite news |first=James |last=Reston |author-link=James Reston |title=The Chaos in Foreign Affairs |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 21, 1979 |page=27 }}</ref> thereby provoking British diplomatic complaints.<ref name="British Accuse Senate Aide">{{cite news |first=R. W. Jr. |last=Apple |title=British Accuse Senate Aide on Rhodesia |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 20, 1979 |page=3 }}</ref> His aide [[John Carbaugh]] was accused of encouraging Smith to "hang on" and take a harder line, implying that there was enough support in the US Senate to lift sanctions without a settlement.<ref name=Reston1979 /><ref name="British Accuse Senate Aide" /> Helms introduced legislation that demanded immediate lifting of the sanctions;<ref>{{cite news |first=Graham |last=Hovey |title=Carter Promises to Stop Sanctions After Rhodesia Political Settlement |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 4, 1979 |page=20 }}</ref> as negotiations progressed, Helms complied more with the administration's line, although Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] accused Carter of conceding the construction of a new aircraft carrier in return for Helms's acquiescence on Zimbabwe Rhodesia, which both parties denied.<ref>{{cite news |first=Steven V. |last=Roberts |author-link=Steven V. Roberts |title=Kennedy Sees 'Deal' in Carter Reversal |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 15, 1979 |page=11 }}</ref> Helms's support for lifting sanctions on Zimbabwe Rhodesia may have been grounded in North Carolina's tobacco traders, who would have been the main group benefiting from unilaterally lifting sanctions on tobacco-exporting Zimbabwe Rhodesia.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ann |last=Crittenden |title=Sanction End Held Affecting U.S. Little |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 16, 1979 |page=36 }}</ref>

===1980 presidential election===
In 1979, Helms was touted as a potential contender for the [[Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1980|Republican nomination]] for the [[1980 United States presidential election|1980 presidential election]],<ref name="Only 6 of 18 GOP Contenders">{{cite news |title=Only 6 of 18 G.O.P. Contenders are Recognised by Half of Voters |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 23, 1979 |page=27 }}</ref> but had poor voter recognition, and he lagged far behind the front-runners.<ref name="Only 6 of 18 GOP Contenders" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Reagan and Ford hold G.O.P. Lead, Poll Says |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 29, 1979 |page=14 }}</ref> He was the only candidate to file for the [[New Hampshire primary|New Hampshire Vice-Presidential primary]].<ref>{{cite news |title=5 Democrats and 7 Republicans to be on New Hampshire Ballot |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 28, 1979 |page=19 }}</ref> Going into 1980, he was suggested as a potential [[running mate]] for Reagan, and said he'd accept if he could "be his own man".<ref name="A Stand-In for Ron">{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Wicker |author-link=Tom Wicker |title=A Stand-In for Ron? |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 1, 1980 |page=19 }}</ref> He was one of three conservative candidates running for the nomination.<ref>{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Brogan |title=Will Mr Reagan compromise on his choice of running mate? |work=[[The Times]] |page=7 |date=April 11, 1980 }}</ref> However, his ideological agreement with Reagan risked losing moderates' votes, particularly due to the independent candidacy of Rep. [[John B. Anderson]],<ref name="A Stand-In for Ron" /><ref>{{cite news |first=William |last=Safire |author-link=William Safire |title=Handful of Hopefuls |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 26, 1980 |page=15 }}</ref> and the Reagan camp was split:<ref>{{cite news |first=Hedrick |last=Smith |author-link=Hedrick Smith |title=Reagan Aims at Northeast and Midwest in Fall Race |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 12, 1979 |page=D14 }}</ref> eventually designating [[George H. W. Bush]] as his preferred candidate. At the convention, Helms toyed with the idea of running for vice-president despite Reagan's choice, but let it go in exchange for Bush's endorsing the party platform and allowing Helms to address the convention.<ref name="Conservative First Recoil">{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Tolchin |title=Conservatives First Recoil, Then Line Up Behind Bush |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 18, 1980 |page=9 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Franklin Delano Reagan |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 20, 1980 |page=E20 }}</ref> As expected,<ref>{{cite news |title=Mr Ford sets conditions to be Reagan running mate |work=[[The Times]] |page=1 |date=July 17, 1980 }}</ref> Helms was drafted by conservatives anyway, and won 54 votes, coming second. Helms was the "spiritual leader of the conservative convention",<ref name="Conservative First Recoil" /> and led the movement that successfully reversed the Republican Party's 36-year platform support for an [[Equal Rights Amendment]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Warren |last=Weaver |title=Equal Rights Plan Splits Republicans Drafting Platform |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 8, 1980 |page=1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Anthony |last=Lewis |author-link=Anthony Lewis |title=How He Could Lose |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 14, 1980 |page=19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=How We Got Here: The '70s | url=https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum | url-access=registration |last=Frum |first=David |author-link=David Frum |year=2000 |publisher=Basic Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-465-04196-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/245 245] }}</ref>

In the fall of 1980, Helms proposed another bill denying the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] jurisdiction over [[school prayer]], but this found little support in committee. It was strongly opposed by [[mainline Protestant]] churches,<ref>{{cite news |first=Marjorie |last=Hunter |title=The Churches are at Odds Over Yet Another School Prayer Bill |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 3, 1980 |page=1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Steven V. |last=Roberts |author-link=Steven V. Roberts |title=New Strategies Sharpen Old Fight on Civil Rights |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 23, 1980 |page=E2 }}</ref> and its counterpart was defeated in the House.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dorothy J. |last=Samuels |author-link=Dorothy Samuels |title=A Coming Threat to Constitutional Values |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 23, 1980 |page=E21 }}</ref> Senators Helms and [[James A. McClure]] blocked Ted Kennedy's comprehensive criminal code that did not relax federal firearms restrictions, inserted capital punishment procedures, and reinstated current statutory law on [[pornography]], [[prostitution]], and [[drug possession]].<ref name="Pear 17">{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Pear |title=Crime Bill Challenged by Conservative Republicans |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 15, 1980 |page=17 }}</ref> Following from his success at reintroducing gold-indexed contracts in 1977, in October 1980, Helms proposed a return to the [[gold standard]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Vogl |title=United States seeks stronger role for SDR in monetary system |work=[[The Times]] |page=19 |date=October 2, 1980 }}</ref> and successfully passed an amendment setting up a commission to look into gold-backed currency.<ref>{{cite news |first=Leonard |last=Silk |title=Clash Over Gold Standard |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=D2 |date=April 29, 1981 }}</ref> After the presidential election, Helms and [[Strom Thurmond]] sponsored a Senate amendment to a [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] appropriations bill denying the Department the power to participate in [[Desegregation busing in the United States|busing]], due to objections over federal involvement, but, although passed by Congress, was vetoed by a [[Lame duck (politics)|lame duck]] Carter.<ref>{{cite news |first=B. Drummond Jr. |last=Ayres |title=Civil Rights Groups Fear a Slowdown In Busing for Desegregation of Schools |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 21, 1980 |page=28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Wicker |author-link=Tom Wicker |title=Why Not The Best? |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 16, 1980 |page=E21 }}</ref> Helms pledged to introduce an even stronger anti-busing bill as soon as Reagan took office.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate Drops Antibusing Rider from Major Appropriations Bill |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=December 11, 1980 }}</ref>

===Republicans take the Senate===
In the [[United States Senate election, 1980|1980 Senate election]], the Republicans unexpectedly won a majority,<ref name="Democrats aim to regain">{{cite news |first=Nicolas |last=Ashford |title=Democrats aim to regain lost ground |work=[[The Times]] |page=10 |date=February 10, 1984 }}</ref> their first in twenty-six years, including [[John Porter East]], a social conservative and a Helms protégé soon dubbed "Helms on Wheels",<ref>{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Rosellini |title=North Carolina Republican, Mark II |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=16 |date=February 16, 1982 }}</ref> winning the other North Carolina seat. [[Howard Baker]] was set to become [[United States Senate Majority Leader|Majority Leader]], but conservatives, angered by Baker's support for the Panama treaty, [[SALT II]], and the Equal Rights Amendment, had sought to replace him with Helms until Reagan gave Baker his backing.<ref name="Busy programme for President">{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Brogan |title=Busy programme for President and 'lame duck' Congress |work=[[The Times]] |page=5 |date=November 8, 1980 }}</ref> Although, it was thought they'd put Helms in charge of the Foreign Relations Committee instead of the liberal [[Charles H. Percy]],<ref name="Busy programme for President" /> he instead became chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee]] in the new Congress.

The first six months of 1981 were consumed by numerous Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearings, which were held up by Helms, who believed many of the appointees too liberal or too tainted by association with Kissinger,<ref>{{cite news |title=Critics delay Reagan nominations |work=[[The Times]] |page=5 |date=April 24, 1981 }}</ref><ref name="White House unhappy at confirmation delays">{{cite news |first=David |last=Cross |title=Senate snub forces Reagan man to withdraw |work=[[The Times]] |page=7 |date=April 18, 1981 }}</ref> and not dedicated enough to his definition of the "Reagan program": support for South Africa, Taiwan, and Latin American right-wing regimes (as opposed to Black Africa and "Red" China).<ref>{{cite news |first=Juan |last=de Onis |title=3 Appointees, Opposed by Helms, Confirmed by Senate Committee |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=10 |date=April 29, 1981 }}</ref> These nominations included [[Alexander Haig]],<ref name="Reagan appointments bring trouble">{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Brogan |title=Reagan appointments bring trouble on far right |work=[[The Times]] |page=8 |date=February 13, 1981 }}</ref> [[Chester Crocker]],<ref name="White House unhappy at confirmation delays" /> [[John J. Louis Jr.]], and [[Lawrence Eagleburger]],<ref name="Reagan team prepares">{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Brogan |title=Reagan team prepares economic package to cut public spending |work=[[The Times]] |page=4 |date=January 24, 1982 }}</ref> all of whom were confirmed regardless,<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Cross |title=Stalling by Helms is ignored |work=[[The Times]] |page=8 |date=April 30, 1981 }}</ref> while all of Helms's candidates were rejected.<ref name="Reagan appointments bring trouble" /><ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Cross |title=Senate snub forces Reagan man to withdraw |work=[[The Times]] |page=1 |date=June 6, 1981 }}</ref> Helms also, unsuccessfully, opposed the nominations of [[Caspar Weinberger]], [[Donald Regan]],<ref name="Reagan appointments bring trouble" /> and [[Frank Carlucci]].<ref name="Reagan team prepares" /> However, he did score a notable coup two years later when he led a small group of conservatives to block the nomination of [[Robert T. Grey]] for nine months,<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Ashford |title=US diehards endanger arms talks |work=[[The Times]] |page=6 |date=January 6, 1983 }}</ref> thus causing the firing of [[Eugene V. Rostow]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Mohsin |last=Ali |title=Why Rostow lost his job |work=[[The Times]] |page=6 |date=January 14, 1983 }}</ref>

===Food stamp program===
An opponent of the [[Food Stamp Program]], Helms had already voted to reduce its scope,<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate Approves Agriculture Funds |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 27, 1980 |page=18 }}</ref> and was determined to follow this through as Agriculture Committee chairman.<ref name="Thunder from the Right">{{cite news |first=Peter Ross |last=Range |title=Thunder from the Right |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 8, 1981 |page=SM6 }}</ref> At one point, he proposed a 40% cut in their funding.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jean |last=Mayer |author-link=Jean Mayer |author2=Schlossberg, Kenneth |title=Tighten Food Stamps, But Don't Deprive the Needy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/02/07/opinion/tighten-food-stamps-but-don-t-deprive-the-needy.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 7, 1981 |page=21 |access-date=July 9, 2009}}</ref> Instead, Helms supported the replacement of food stamps with [[workfare]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Steven V. |last=Robert |author-link=Steven V. Roberts |title=Testing 'Workfare' in South Carolina: Food Stamp Users Find Mixed Results |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 20, 1981 |page=16 }}</ref>

===Economic policies===
Helms supported the [[gold standard]] through his role as the Agriculture Committee chairman, which exercises wide powers over commodity markets.<ref name="Republican support for a new gold standard" /> During the budget crisis of 1981, he restored $200 million for school lunches by instead cutting foreign aid,<ref>{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Tolchin |title=$200 Million to Pay for School Lunches Restored by Senate |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 28, 1981 |page=1 }}</ref> and against increases in grain and milk price support,<ref>{{cite news |first=Seth S. |last=King |title=Senate Panel, Rebuffing Reagan, Approves Costlier Grain Support Plan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/01/us/senate-panel-rebuffing-reagan-approves-costlier-grain-support-plan.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 1, 1981 |page=18 |access-date=July 9, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Seth S. |last=King |title=Milk Output Rises Despite a Price Support Freeze |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 27, 1981 |page=B19 }}</ref> despite the importance of the dairy industry to North Carolina. He warned repeatedly against costly farm subsidies as chairman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate Farm Panel Votes More Subsidies |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=May 1, 1981 }}</ref> However, in 1983, he used his position to lobby to use the country's strategic dairy and wheat stocks to subsidize food exports as part of a [[trade war]] with the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Ashford |title=Senators to step up trade war |work=[[Financial Times]] |page=33 |date=February 18, 1983 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Ashford |title=Senators to step up trade war |work=[[The Times]] |page=7 |date=April 25, 1983 }}</ref> Helms heavily opposed cutting food aid to Poland after [[Martial law in Poland|martial law was declared]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Hedrick |last=Smith |author-link=Hedrick Smith |title=Further U.S. Help Is in Abeyance Until Polish Situation is Clarified |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/15/world/further-us-help-is-an-abeyance-until-polish-situation-is-clarified.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 15, 1981 |page=1 |access-date=July 9, 2009}}</ref> and called for the end of grain exports to (and arms limitation talks with) the Soviet Union instead.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hedrick |last=Smith |author-link=Hedrick Smith |title=Reagan's Sanctions |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 25, 1981 |page=3 }}</ref>

In 1982, Helms authored a bill to introduce a federal [[flat tax]] of 10% with a [[personal allowance]] of $2,000.<ref>{{cite news |first=William |last=Safire |author-link=William Safire |title=The Flat Tax |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 30, 1982 |page=31 }}</ref> He voted against the 1983 budget, the only conservative senator to have done so,<ref>{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Tolchin |title=54–45 Senate Vote Passes the Budget |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 24, 1982 |page=1 }}</ref> and was a leading voice for a [[balanced budget amendment]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Amendment Drive Now in high Gear |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 13, 1982 |page=17 }}</ref> With [[Charlie Rose (congressman)|Charlie Rose]], he proposed a bill that would limit tobacco price supports, but would allow the transfer of subsidy credits from non-farmers to farmers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tobacco Allotment Program Under Fire in Congress |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=June 15, 1982 }}</ref> He co-sponsored the bi-partisan move in 1982 to extend drug patent duration.<ref>{{cite news |title=Patent Bill Splits the Drug Industry |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 15, 1982 |page=NJ4 }}</ref> Helms continued to pose obstacles to Reagan's budget plans. At the end of the [[97th United States Congress|97th Congress]], Helms led a filibuster against Reagan's increase of the federal [[gasoline tax]] by 5-cents per gallon:<ref name="From Reagan Ally">{{cite news |title=Helms: From Reagan Ally to Foe in One Filibuster |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 23, 1982 |page=1 }}</ref> mirroring his opposition to [[Governor of North Carolina|Governor]] [[Jim Hunt]]'s 3-cent increase in the North Carolina gasoline tax, but alienating the White House from Helms.<ref name="From Reagan Ally" />

===Social issues===
Although Helms recognized budget concerns and nominations as predominant, he rejected calls by Baker to move debate on social issues to 1982,<ref>{{cite news |title=Helms Says Senate May Consider Some Social Measures This Year |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/28/us/helms-says-senate-may-consider-some-social-measures-this-year.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 28, 1981 |page=9 |access-date=July 9, 2009}}</ref> with conservatives seeking to discuss abortion, school prayer, the [[minimum wage]], and the "[[fair housing]]" policy.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hedrick |last=Smith |author-link=Hedrick Smith |title=Senate Republicans Decide to Postpone 'Emotional' Debates |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 27, 1981 |page=1 }}</ref> With the new Congress, Helms and [[Robert K. Dornan]] again proposed an amendment banning abortion in all circumstances,<ref>{{cite news |title=Abortion Foes Meet With Reagan After March in Capital |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 23, 1981 |page=14 }}</ref> and also proposed a bill defining fetuses as human beings, thereby taking it out of the hands of the federal courts,<ref>{{cite news |title=Courts in the dock |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=June 19, 1982 |page=65 }}</ref> along with Illinois Republican [[Henry Hyde]] and Kentucky Democrat [[Romano Mazzoli]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Nadine |last=Brozan |title=Opposing Sides Step Up Efforts on Abortion Measure |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 15, 1981 |page=14 }}</ref> More successfully, Helms passed an amendment banning federal funds from being used for abortion unless the woman's life is in danger.<ref>{{cite news |first=Francis X. |last=Cline |title=Senate Passes New Abortion Aid Curb |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 22, 1981 |page=16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Anthony |last=Lewis |author-link=Anthony Lewis |title=Cotton Mather Policies |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 24, 1981 |page=E19 }}</ref> His support was key to the nomination of [[C. Everett Koop]] as [[United States Surgeon General|Surgeon General]], by proposing lifting the age limit that would otherwise have ruled out Koop.<ref>{{cite news |title=House May Drop Objections on Surgeon General Appointment |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=May 21, 1981 }}</ref> He proposed an amendment taking school prayer out of the remit of the Supreme Court, which was criticized for being unconstitutional; despite Reagan's endorsement, the bill was eventually rejected, after twenty months of dispute and numerous filibusters, in September 1982, by 51–48.<ref>{{cite news |first=Steven V. |last=Roberts |author-link=Steven V. Roberts |title=School Prayer Measure Dies in 51–48 Senate Vote |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 24, 1982 |page=19 }}</ref> Helms and Strom Thurmond sponsored another amendment to prevent the Department of Justice filing suits in defence of federal busing, which he contended wasted taxpayer money without improving education;<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Ashford |title=America to end busing |work=[[The Times]] |page=4 |date=June 22, 1981 }}</ref> this was filibustered by [[Lowell Weicker]] for eight months, but passed in March 1982.<ref>{{cite news |first=Steven V. |last=Roberts |author-link=Steven V. Roberts |title=Antibusing Move Passed by Senate After Long Fight |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=1 |date=March 3, 1982 }}</ref> However, Democratic [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] [[Tip O'Neill]] blocked the measure from being considered by the House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Steven|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/03/us/antibusing-moves-passed-by-senate-after-long-fight.html|title=Antibusing Moves Passed by Senate after Long Fight|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 3, 1982|access-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/04/us/house-speaker-says-he-won-t-act-on-senate-school-busing-measure.html |title=House Speaker Says He Won'T Act On Senate School Busing Measure |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 4, 1982 |access-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref>

In 1981, Helms started secret negotiations to end an 11-year impasse and pave the way for desegregation of historically white and historically black colleges in North Carolina.<ref>{{cite news |title=Carolina Settles Integration Suit on Universities |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 21, 1981 |page=22 }}</ref> In response to a rival anti-discrimination bill in 1982, he proposed a bill outlawing granting tax-free status to schools that discriminated racially, but allowing schools that discriminate on the grounds of religion to avoid taxes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Furor Grows Over Bill to Curb Tax Break for Biased Schools |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=February 1, 1982 }}</ref> When the [[Voting Rights Act]] came up for amendment in 1982, Helms and Thurmond criticized it for bias against the South, arguing that it made Carolinians "second-class citizens" by treating their states differently,<ref>Link (2007), p. 260</ref> and proposed an amendment that extended its terms to the whole country, which they knew would bury it.<ref name="Reagan backs extension">{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Ashford |title=Reagan backs extension to black voting Act |work=[[The Times]] |page=4 |date=August 6, 1981 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Howard |last=Ball |title=Voting Rights |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 2, 1981 |page=10 }}</ref> However, it was extended anyway, despite Helms's filibuster, which he promised to lead "[[wikt:until the cows come home|until the cows come home]]".<ref>{{cite news |first=Steven V. |last=Roberts |author-link=Steven V. Roberts |title=Senators Debate Voting Rights Act |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 10, 1982 |page=27 }}</ref> In 1983, Helms hired [[Claude Allen]], an African American, as his press secretary. Despite his publicly aired belief that he was one of the best-liked senators amongst black staff in Congress, it was pointed out that he did not have any African-American staff of his own, prompting the hiring of the twenty-two-year-old,<ref>Link (2007), p. 259</ref> who had switched parties when he was press secretary to [[Bill Cobey]] in the previous year's campaign.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Urbina |author2=Kirkpatrick, David D. |title=For Bush's Ex-Aide, Quick Fall After Long Climb |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 14, 2006 }}</ref>

In 1983, Helms led the  16-day filibuster in the Senate opposing the proposed establishment of [[Martin Luther King Day]] as a [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holiday]]. Helms and others claimed, "another federal holiday would be costly for the economy." Although the Congressional Budget Office cited a cost of $18 million, Helms claimed it would cost $12 billion a year.<ref name="washingtonpost_1983"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/01/04/mlk-filibuster/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|title=What Martin Luther King Jr. said about the filibuster: 'A minority of misguided senators'|author=Brockell, Gillian|date=January 4, 2022|access-date=May 4, 2023|archive-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220105120525/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/01/04/mlk-filibuster/}}</ref><ref name=Economist>{{cite news |title=Martin Luther King; Honoured, but still controversial |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=October 22, 1983|page=39}}</ref> Helms "distributed a 300-page packet claiming that the civil rights leader was a political radical who adopted "action-oriented Marxism"<ref name="washingtonpost_1983"/> and detailing Dr. King's supposed treachery"<ref name="NYT_2017_Sokol">{{citation|author=Jason Sokol |url=https://nyti.ms/2iCnQCk|title=Which Martin Luther King Are We Celebrating Today? |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 16, 2017 |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref> in which he accused King of "appear[ing] to have welcomed collaboration with Communists",<ref name="NYT_2017_Sokol" /> [[Stanley Levison]] and [[Jack O'Dell]].<ref name="washingtonpost_1983">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/articles/helms_stalls_kings_day.html |title=Helms Stalls King's Day In Senate |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 4, 1983 |first=Helen |last=Dewar}}</ref>  Helms ended the filibuster in exchange for a new tobacco bill. President Reagan signed the bill on October 19, 1983.<ref name=Economist/><ref name="NYT_2017_Sokol"/> Helms then demanded that FBI surveillance tapes allegedly detailing philandering on King's part be released, although Reagan and the courts refused. The conservatives attempted to rename the day "National Equality Day" or "National Civil Rights Day", but failed, and the bill was passed.<ref name=Economist/> Writing in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' several years later, [[David Broder]] attributed Helms' opposition to the MLK holiday to racism on Helms's part.<ref>[http://www.racematters.org/jessehelmswhiteracist.htm Race Matters – Jesse Helms, WhiteRacist, by David Broder]</ref>

===Latin America===
Upon the Republican takeover of the Senate, Helms became chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, promising to "review all our policies on Latin America", of which he had been severely critical under Carter.<ref name="Senators Meet on Salvadoran Aid">{{cite news |title=Senators Meet on Salvadoran Aid |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 6, 1981 |page=3 }}</ref> He immediately focused on escalating aid to the Salvadoran government in its [[Salvadoran Civil War|civil war]], and particularly preventing [[Nicaragua]]n and [[Cuba]]n support for [[guerrilla]]s in [[El Salvador]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Ashford |title=Congress liberals fear new Vietnam |work=[[The Times]] |page=6 |date=February 4, 1982 }}</ref> Within hours, the subcommittee approved military aid to El Salvador,<ref name="Senators Meet on Salvadoran Aid" /> and later led the push to cut aid to Nicaragua.<ref>{{cite news |first=Juan |last=de Onis |title=Administration is Said to Approve Increase in Military Aid to Salvador |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 28, 1981 |page=1 }}</ref> Helms was assisted in pursuing the foreign policy realignment by John Carbaugh, whose influence ''The New York Times'' reported "[rivalled] many of [the Senate's] more visible elected members".<ref>{{cite news |first=Judith |last=Miller |author-link=Judith Miller (journalist) |title=Behind Senator Helms, a Cherubic Assistant Reigns |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 22, 1981 |page=2 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Bernard |last=Weinraub |title=Departing, Senate Aide Leaves Trail of Questions |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 1, 1982 |page=16 }}</ref>

In El Salvador, Helms had close ties with the right-wing [[El Salvador|Salvadoran]] [[Nationalist Republican Alliance]] and its leader and [[death squad]] founder [[Roberto D'Aubuisson]].<ref name="Bronstein Jy 8">{{cite news | last = Bronstein | first =Phil | title=Jesse Helms and his arms-trading staff | work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] | date=July 8, 2008 | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/bronstein/detail?&entry_id=27938 | access-date=July 8, 2008}}</ref><ref name="McEwan Jy 7">{{cite news | last = Melissa McEwan | first =Melissa McEwan | title=Republican dinosaur: Although he fought every progressive cause, Jesse Helms aimed special enmity towards black people | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=July 7, 2008 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/jul/07/usa | access-date=July 8, 2008 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=National Catholic Reporter |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_n41_v30/ai_15802111 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622192750/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_n41_v30/ai_15802111 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 22, 2008 |date=September 23, 1994 |author=Arthur Jones |title=El Salvador revisited: a look a declassified State Department documents – some of what U.S. government knew – and when it knew it }}</ref> Helms opposed the appointment of [[Thomas R. Pickering]] as [[United States Ambassador to El Salvador|Ambassador to El Salvador]].<ref name="Link 248">Link (2007), p. 248</ref> Helms alleged that the CIA had interfered in the Salvadoran election March and May 1984, in favor of the incumbent centre-left [[José Napoleón Duarte]] instead of D'Aubuisson,<ref name="CIA role in El Salvador">{{cite news |first=Reginald |last=Dale |title=CIA role in El Salvador election criticised |work=[[Financial Times]] |date=May 10, 1984 }}</ref> claiming that Pickering had "used the cloak of diplomacy to strangle freedom in the night".<ref name="Link 248"/> A CIA operative testifying to the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate Intelligence Committee]] was alleged by Helms to have admitted rigging the election, but senators that attended have stated that, whilst the CIA operative admitted involvement, they did not make such an admission.<ref name="CIA role in El Salvador" /> Helms disclosed details of CIA financial support for Duarte, earning a rebuke from [[Barry Goldwater]], but Helms replied that his information came from sources in El Salvador, not the Senate committee.<ref>Link (2007), p. 249</ref>

In 1982, Helms was the only senator who opposed a Senate resolution endorsing a pro-British policy during the [[Falklands War]],<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Walter |last=Isaacson |author2=McGeary, Johanna |author3= Nelan, Bruce W.  |title=Stormy Times for the U.S. |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921205,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051117082211/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921205,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 17, 2005 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=May 17, 1982 |access-date=July 8, 2009}}</ref> citing the [[Monroe Doctrine]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Ashford |title=Pro-British mood grows on Capitol Hill |work=[[The Times]] |page=8 |date=April 23, 1982 }}</ref> although he did manage to weaken the resolution's language.<ref>{{cite news |first=Bernard |last=Gwertzman |title=U.S. Says Haig Effort Seems to Fail And Falklands Fighting is Likely |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 30, 1982 |page=1 }}</ref> Nonetheless, Helms was a supporter of the [[Chile]]an [[dictator]] General [[Augusto Pinochet]],<ref>{{cite news |work=Indy Week |title=Deadly Alliance: New evidence shows how far Jesse Helms went to support Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet |date=May 23, 2001 |first=Jon |last=Elliston |url=http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=15917}}</ref> who supported the United Kingdom in the Falklands conflict. Helms was steadfastly opposed to the Castro regime in Cuba, and spent much of his time campaigning against the lifting of sanctions. In 1980, he opposed a treaty with Cuba on sea [[boundary delimitation]] unless it included withdrawal of the Soviet brigade stationed on the island.<ref name="Pear 17"/> The following year, he proposed legislation establishing [[Radio Free Cuba]],<ref>{{cite news |title='Radio Free Cuba' Wins Backing of U.S. Senate |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/18/world/radio-free-cuba-wins-backing-of-us-senate.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 18, 1981 |page=10 |access-date=July 9, 2009}}</ref> which would later become known as [[Radio Martí]].

===1984 re-election campaign===
{{Main|1984 United States Senate election in North Carolina}}

Halfway through Reagan's term, Helms was talked about as a prospective presidential candidate in 1984 in case Reagan chose to stand down after his first term.<ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Reston |author-link=James Reston |title=Will Reagan Run in '84? |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 19, 1982 |page=202 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Howell |last=Raines |author-link=Howell Raines |title=In the Wings, if Reagan Doesn't Run |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 20, 1982 |page=B12 }}</ref> There was also speculation that Helms would run for the [[Governor of North Carolina|Governorship]], being vacated by [[Jim Hunt]].<ref>{{cite news |title=North Carolina; Huntsmen against Helsmen |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=March 19, 1983 |page=50 }}</ref> However, the President stood for re-election, and Helms ran once more for his Senate seat—facing Governor Hunt—and becoming the top target among the incumbent Senate Republicans.<ref name="Democrats aim to regain" />

Unlike in 1978, Helms faced an opponent in the primary, George Wimbish, but won with 90.6% of the vote, while Hunt received 77% in his.<ref name="SouthNow 46" /> During the general election campaign, Hunt accused Helms of having the most "anti-Israel record of any member of the U.S. Senate".<ref name="Link 318" /> Helms pledged during the campaign that he would retain his chairmanship of the Agriculture committee.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Ashford |title=Cross-voting foils coat-tails effect for Reagan |work=[[The Times]] |page=6 |date=November 8, 1984 }}</ref>

In the most expensive Senate campaign up to that time, Helms narrowly defeated Hunt, taking 1,156,768 (51.7%) to Hunt's 1,070,488 (47.8%).<ref name="SouthNow 46" />