Former U.S. Senator Jesse Helms died today is his home state of North Carolina.

Senator Helms was a controversial politician who stirred political passions on both sides of the aisle during his 30 years in the Senate.

There was hardly a more unmovable force or a more determined advocate for conservative views than senator Jesse Helms.

He was fiercely opposed to racial quotas, gay rights and especially abortion rights but was equally famous for being a staunch anti-communist.

A position he championed as the longtime chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, even opposing one of Ronald Reagan's proposed arms control treaties.

On domestic issues, Helm's chief concern was abortion.

"And I used to say "Jesse” we only voted on it a hundred times this year he made clear every opportunity where he stood on abortion,” said former Senate Republican Leader, Bob Dole.

But he generated the most controversy on race relations.

Helms was an old school politician in the south who had opposed the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

"I thought it very unwise, and it was taking liberties away from one group of citizens and giving them to another,” said Helms.

And he made racial quotas an issue in his reelection campaigns, especially in 1990 against Harvey Gantt, the African American former mayor of Charlotte.

"You needed that job, and you were the best qualified, but they had to give it to a minority, because of a racial quota,” said Helms’ 1990 campaign ad.

Helms went on to win close elections against Gantt in two races.

Some critics argue Helms was a racist, but longtime associates insist he was motivated by principle:

"It was very widespread feeling in America against preferential treatment or quotas if you're trying to move to a colorblind society,” said John Bolton, the former U.S ambassador to the United Nations.

Many conservatives give helms the most applause for having elevated Ronald Reagan.

"There would have been no Ronald Reagan w/o Jesse Helms,” said Marc Thiessen, a former spokesman for Helms.

Democratic Senator Joe Biden reflected the views of many today, saying Helms always fought "tenaciously for his beliefs."

And though we disagreed more often than not, he said, Helms was always a gentleman.

Biden said even though Helms was often called "Senator No," Biden said he forged many pragmatic compromises for the good of the nation and the world.