take the helm

take the helm (third-person singular simple present takes the helm, present participle taking the helm, simple past took the helm, past participle taken the helm)

1. (nautical) To assume responsibility for steering a ship
2. (by extension) To take over responsibility (of something) from someone else
   • 2001, Barbara Olson, “The Final Frenzy: Finishing Touches on the Legend”, in The Final Days: The Last, Desperate Abuses of Power by the Clinton White House‎ (Politics/Current Affairs), Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 2:

     The nation was also at peace. The Cold War had ended before Bill Clinton took the helm, and his presidency had experienced nothing that could be called a major international crisis. Turmoil in the Balkans and Middle East was nothing new. Iraq required attention but no massive deployment of Americans. There had been devastating, but fortunately isolated, terrorist attacks in Africa and in Oklahoma City. But the North Koreans had not invaded South Korea, nor had they lobbed one of their missiles in our direction. Communist China did not invade Taiwan. Libya remained quiet.