Jesse Helms, Bete Noir of Kennedys and Other Liberals, Is Dead; Once the Hatfields and the McCoys with Teddy

In politics, it always helps to have a scarecrow to keep the pests away, and Jesse Helms served that mutual role for Teddy Kennedy. Helms reportedly has died at age 86, according to a group known as the "Jesse Helms Research Center". But in life, this "Righteous Warrior" took particular glee in aiming his vitriol at the Kennedys. Of course, as this story recounts, so did Teddy, making Helms into his favorite bete noir.