NBC NEWS- Former Senator Jesse Helms died Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Helms served in the U.S. Senate for thirty years before retiring in 2003.

During his tenure the North Carolina Senator was often controversial and always outspoken.

But his views were critical because he was the chairman of the very powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

His policies earned him the reputation of being one of the most conservative voices in Washington.

Helms supported banning legalized abortion, and returning prayer to public schools.

His positions on cutting welfare, limiting aid to foreign countries and blocking government funds for the arts consistently made him a target for critics.

In 1978 the Raleigh News and Observer gave Helms the nickname "Senator No".

Helms later said "It was not meant as a compliment, but I certainly took it as one."

Jesse Helms was born and raised in North Carolina. He gained notoriety as the outspoken executive vice president of a powerful broadcasting company, delivering biting daily editorials on radio and television.

Plagued with health problems senator helms reluctantly stepped down at the age of 81.

But while on Capitol Hill, Helms always remained in the forefront of ultra conservative causes, proudly wearing the unofficial title of the senate's most conservative senator.