Jesse Helms Center facts for kids
The Helms Center
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| Established | 1994; current building 2001 |
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| Location | Wingate, North Carolina |
The Jesse Helms Center is a special place in Wingate, North Carolina. It is named after Jesse Helms, who was a very important U.S. Senator. This center keeps many of his important items.
You can find his papers, letters, and speeches here. There are also recordings of his TV talks. The center has books he liked and a copy of his office. You can even see things from his political campaigns.
About the Jesse Helms Center
The Jesse Helms Center was started in 1994. Senator Helms wanted his important papers to be kept in his home county. So, he chose Wingate University, where he used to be a student.
In 2001, the center opened its own building. It is a two-story building made of brick and glass. It is right next to the Wingate Town Hall. John Dodd has been the President of the center since 1995. A group of directors helps to guide the center.
What You Can See at the Center
The center has many interesting things to explore. You can see a copy of Senator Helms's office. This shows what his workspace looked like when he was a senator. There are also items from his political campaigns. These include information from polls and old advertisements.
Special Events and Programs
The Helms Center hosts many interesting events. They have a lecture series where famous people come to speak. Some of the past speakers include Margaret Thatcher, who was a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Condoleezza Rice, a former U.S. Secretary of State, has also spoken there. Even the Dalai Lama from Tibet has visited.
The center also runs a special program called the Helms Foreign Relations School. This school teaches about how countries work together. It is held near Washington, D.C.. Senator Helms was one of only two senators from North Carolina to lead the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This committee helps decide how the U.S. interacts with other countries. Nathaniel Macon is also honored at the center for his work in this area.
