RALEIGH - The late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms was remembered today as a humble but persistent leader during a funeral that brought out national and state politicians among the mourners.

Those in attendance included Vice President Dick Cheney; Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain; Democratic U.S. Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Joe Biden of Delaware; members of North Carolina's congressional delegation; and Gov. Mike Easley.

In a eulogy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky referred to Helms' modest background and kindness.

"Anyone who passed by Jesse Helms in the Capitol or worked in his office would remember him as one of the kindest men they ever knew," McConnell said. "No matter who they were, he always had a kind word and gentle smile."

He said that Helms showed tenacity in the face of criticism. "Jesse Helms always stood his ground," McConnell said.

"He had a preternatural calm about what other people said, but for Jesse, standing on principle and fighting back in defense of one's views was never to be confused with animosity for one's adversaries. As one of his Democratic colleagues put it over the weekend, he was always a gentlemen."

Helms' former staffer Jimmy Broughton, now a lobbyist with the firm Womble Carlyle, told anecdotes to illustrate how Helms' humility differed from his fierce image. He said Helms would have enjoyed knowing that his death on the 4th of July ruined the vacation plans of "big-city editors" with whom he tangled.

Helms' granddaughter Jennifer Knox also referred to his perseverance. "One of the things that Granddad said was, 'You can compromise your preferences but never your principles, and he never did," she said.

About 900 people attended the service at Hayes-Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh, which opened with an organist playing "America, the Beautiful." Helms worshiped for decades at Hayes-Barton and was a deacon there.

The Rev. Tom Bodkin led the funeral service, offering a prayer in which he gave thanks for Helms' "courageous stands" and asked God to "bless the memories we have of this great man."

Helms, an uncompromising conservative Republican and a divisive figure in North Carolina politics, served five terms in the Senate.