His early lifeBorn: Oct. 18, 1921, in Monroe in Union County. His father, “Big Jesse,” served as chief of police.Education: Attended Wake Forest University.Military service: U.S. Navy, 1942-45.Early work: Included stints as a newspaper columnist, a TV editorialist, city editor for the Raleigh Times and executive director of the state bankers association.His political career1951-53: Administrative assistant to U.S. Sen. Willis Smith, a segregationist.1957-61: Member of the Raleigh City Council.1973-2003: U.S. senator. Chaired the powerful Foreign Relations Committee, where he became a symbol of isolationism.
