News-Record.com

I can add very little to what is being written and said about Jesse Helms, the former U.S. Senator from North Carolina who died today. I met him exactly once when I was at the very beginning of my career in Washington and the interaction lasted no longer than the subway ride from one of the Senate office buildings to the Capitol. I can say that growing up in Maryland, Jesse Helms is about all I knew of North Carolina politics. By the time I moved to North Carolina, Helms was serving the last year of his last term as Senator.

My boss has this remembrance:

From Gov. Mike Easley's office:

RALEIGH -- Gov. Mike Easley today ordered all North Carolina state flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms who passed away on July 4. Flags will be flown at half-staff from Monday July 7 until sunset on Tuesday July 8.

In addition, a condolence book will be available for North Carolinians to sign in memory of Helms, who represented North Carolina in the Senate from 1973 to 2003. Citizens can sign the book from Monday morning through the close of business on Tuesday. The condolence book
will be sent to the Jesse Helms Center at Wingate University.

I've asked where the condolence book will be, but don't know the answer yet.

Update: AP says the book will be available in the state Capitol.