Helm was a presidential elector for Winfield Scott in the 1852 presidential election.[1] After this he took twelve years off from politics.[1] As early as 1836, Helm had advocated the construction of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.[22] On October 2, 1854, he became the railroad's second president.[23] The previous president had been forced out of that position after a disagreement with Louisville's board of aldermen, and construction of the line had almost been abandoned.[24]