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Freddie Dalton Thompson[4] (August 19, 1942 – November 1, 2015) was an American politician, attorney, lobbyist, columnist, actor, and radio personality. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a United States senator from Tennessee from 1994 to 2003. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the Republican Party presidential primaries for the 2008 United States presidential election.

Key Information

He chaired the International Security Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of State, was a member of the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as a visiting fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, specializing in national security and intelligence.[5]

Usually credited as Fred Dalton Thompson, he appeared in a number of movies and television shows including Matlock, The Hunt for Red October, Die Hard 2, In the Line of Fire, Days of Thunder, and Cape Fear, as well as in commercials. He frequently portrayed governmental authority figures and military men.[6] In the final months of his U.S. Senate term in 2002, Thompson joined the cast of the NBC television series Law & Order, starring as Manhattan District Attorney Arthur Branch.[7]

Early life and education

[edit]

Fred Thompson was born on August 19, 1942, at Colbert County Hospital (now Helen Keller Memorial Hospital) in Sheffield, Alabama.[8] He was the son of Ruth Inez (née Bradley) and Fletcher Session Thompson, a used car salesman born in Lauderdale County, Alabama, on August 26, 1919, and who died in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, on May 27, 1990. Thompson was of primarily English, and distant Dutch, ancestry.[9][10]

He was raised in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, where he attended public schools and graduated from Lawrence County High School in 1960.[11] During high school, he played football, and afterward worked during the day at the local post office and at night in the Murray bicycle assembly plant.[12]

Thompson was raised attending churches of the Churches of Christ, and often credited his values to both his family upbringing and church teachings.[13] In a 2007 interview, he stated, "I attend church when I'm in Tennessee. I'm [living] in McLean right now. I don't attend regularly when I'm up there."[14] Later in life, he occasionally attended Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Virginia.[15] He rarely spoke about religion during his 2008 presidential campaign, saying, "Me getting up and talking about what a wonderful person I am and that sort of thing, I'm not comfortable with that, and I don't think it does me any good."[14]

In September 1959, at age 17, Thompson married Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey after learning she was pregnant.[16] Their first child, Freddie Dalton "Tony" Thompson Jr., was born in April 1960.[17] Two more children, Daniel and Elizabeth, followed soon after.[18]

Thompson initially enrolled at Florence State College (now the University of North Alabama), becoming the first in his family to attend college.[19] He later transferred to Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis), where he earned a double major in philosophy and political science in 1964.[12] He was then awarded a scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University Law School, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1967.[19] During this time, both he and Sarah worked to support their growing family and cover his education expenses.[18] The couple divorced in 1985.[20]

Career as an attorney

[edit]

Thompson was admitted to the state bar of Tennessee in 1967. At that time, he shortened his first name from Freddie to Fred.[21] He worked as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1969 to 1972,[22] successfully prosecuting bank robberies and other cases.[12] Thompson was the campaign manager for Republican U.S. Senator Howard Baker's re-election campaign in 1972, and was minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee in its investigation of the Watergate scandal (1973–1974).

In the 1980s, Thompson worked as an attorney, with law offices in Nashville and Washington, DC,[23] handling personal injury claims and defending people accused of white collar crimes.[24] He also accepted appointments as special counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (1980–1981), special counsel to the Senate Intelligence Committee (1982), and member of the Appellate Court Nominating Commission for the State of Tennessee (1985–1987).[12][19]

His clients included a German mining group and Japan's Toyota Motors Corporation.[18] Thompson served on various corporate boards. He also did legal work and served on the board of directors for engineering firm Stone & Webster.[25]

Role in Watergate hearings

[edit]
Main article: Watergate scandal
From left to right: Thompson (minority counsel), Howard Baker, and Sam Ervin of the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973

In 1973, Thompson was appointed minority counsel to assist the Republican senators on the Senate Watergate Committee, a special committee convened by the U.S. Senate to investigate the Watergate scandal.[26] Thompson was sometimes credited for supplying Republican Senator Howard Baker's famous question, "What did the President know, and when did he know it?"[27] This question is said to have helped frame the hearings in a way that eventually led to the downfall of President Richard Nixon.[28] The question remains popular and is often invoked by pundits commenting on political scandals.[29]

A Republican staff member, Donald Sanders, found out about the White House tapes and informed the committee on July 13, 1973. Thompson was informed of the existence of the tapes, and he, in turn, informed Nixon's attorney, J. Fred Buzhardt.[30] "Even though I had no authority to act for the committee, I decided to call Fred Buzhardt at home," Thompson later wrote,[31] "I wanted to be sure that the White House was fully aware of what was to be disclosed so that it could take appropriate action."

Three days after Sanders's discovery, at a public, televised committee hearing, Thompson asked former White House aide Alexander Butterfield the famous question, "Mr. Butterfield, were you aware of the installation of any listening devices in the Oval Office of the President?" thereby publicly revealing the existence of tape recordings of conversations within the White House.[18][26] National Public Radio later called that session and the discovery of the Watergate tapes "a turning point in the investigation."[32]

Thompson's appointment as minority counsel to the Senate Watergate committee reportedly upset Nixon, who believed Thompson was not skilled enough to interrogate unfriendly witnesses and would be outfoxed by the committee Democrats. According to historian Stanley Kutler, however, Thompson and Baker "carried water for the White House, but I have to give them credit—they were watching out for their interests, too ... They weren't going to mindlessly go down the tubes [for Nixon]."[27]

Journalist Scott Armstrong, a Democratic investigator for the Senate Watergate Committee, is critical of Thompson for having disclosed the committee's knowledge of the tapes to Buzhardt during an ongoing investigation, and says Thompson was "a mole for the White House" and that Thompson's actions gave the White House a chance to destroy the tapes. Thompson's 1975 book At That Point in Time, in turn, accused Armstrong of having been too close to The Washington Post's Bob Woodward and of leaking committee information to him. In response to renewed interest in this matter, in 2007 during his presidential campaign, Thompson said, "I'm glad all of this has finally caused someone to read my Watergate book, even though it's taken them over 30 years."[33]

Corruption case against Tennessee governor

[edit]

In 1977, Thompson represented Marie Ragghianti, a former Tennessee Parole Board chair, who had been fired for refusing to release felons after they had bribed aides to Democratic Governor Ray Blanton to obtain clemency.[34] With Thompson's assistance, Ragghianti filed a wrongful termination suit against Blanton's office. In July 1978, a jury awarded Ragghianti $38,000 ($139,165.09 in 2016 dollars)[35] in back pay and ordered her reinstatement.[34]

Career as a lobbyist

[edit]
Thompson greeting President Ronald Reagan in 1983

Thompson earned about $1 million in total from his lobbying efforts. Except for the year 1981, his lobbying never amounted to more than one-third of his income.[36] According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Fred Thompson earned about half a million dollars from Washington lobbying from 1975 through 1993  ... Lobbyist disclosure records show Thompson had six lobbying clients: Westinghouse, two cable television companies, the Tennessee Savings and Loan League, the Teamsters Union's Central States Pension Fund, and a Baltimore-based business coalition that lobbied for federal grants.[36]

Thompson lobbied Congress on behalf of the Tennessee Savings and Loan League to pass the Garn–St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982, which deregulated the savings and loan industry.[18] A large congressional majority and President Ronald Reagan supported the act, but it was said to be a factor that led to the savings and loan crisis.[37] Thompson received $1,600 for communicating with some congressional staffers on this issue.[36]

When Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown in 1991, Thompson made a telephone call to White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu advocating restoration of Aristide's government, but said that was as a private citizen, not on a paid basis on Aristide's behalf.[38]

Billing records show that Thompson was paid for about 20 hours of work in 1991 and 1992 on behalf of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, a family planning group trying to ease a George H. W. Bush administration regulation on abortion counseling in federally funded clinics.[39][40]

After Thompson was elected to the Senate, two of his sons followed him into the lobbying business, but generally avoided clients where a possible conflict of interest might appear.[41] When he left the Senate, some of his political action committee's fees went to the lobbying firm of one of his sons.[42]

Initial acting career

[edit]

Marie Ragghianti's case became the subject of a book, Marie, which was written by Peter Maas and published in 1983. The film rights were purchased by director Roger Donaldson, who, after traveling to Nashville to speak with the people involved with the original case, asked Thompson if he wanted to play himself. The resulting film, Marie, was Thompson's first acting role and was released in 1985. Roger Donaldson then cast Thompson in the part of CIA director Marshall in the 1987 film No Way Out.[43] He played the head of FBI special-agent training in the 1988 comedy Feds; in the trailer, the FBI disclaimed any connection with the film. In 1990, he was cast as Ed Trudeau, the head of Dulles Airport, in the action sequel Die Hard 2, as Rear Admiral Painter in The Hunt for Red October, and as Big John, the President of NASCAR, in the movie Days of Thunder (patterned on 'Big' Bill France).

Thompson went on to be cast in many films including as Tom Broadbent in Cape Fear (1991) and White House Chief of Staff Harry Sargent in In the Line of Fire (1993). A 1994 New York Times profile wrote, "When Hollywood directors need someone who can personify governmental power, they often turn to him."[6] He also appeared in several television shows including Roseanne, Matlock and (eventually) a role on Law & Order.

United States Senator

[edit]

Election

[edit]

1994

[edit]
Fred Thompson with the U.S. Senate in 2002

In 1994, Thompson was elected to finish the remaining two years of Al Gore's unexpired U.S. Senate term. During the 1994 campaign, Thompson's opponent was longtime Nashville Congressman Jim Cooper. Thompson campaigned in a red pickup truck, and Cooper charged Thompson "is a lobbyist and actor who talks about lower taxes, talks about change, while he drives a rented stage prop."[44] In a good year for Republican candidates,[45] Thompson defeated Cooper by 320,068 votes, overcoming Cooper's early 20% lead in the polls to defeat him by an even greater margin.[46] On the same night Thompson was elected to fill Gore's unexpired term, political newcomer Bill Frist, a Nashville heart surgeon, defeated three-term incumbent Democrat Jim Sasser, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, for Tennessee's other Senate seat, which was up for a full six-year term. The twin victories by Thompson and Frist gave Republicans control of both of Tennessee's Senate seats for the first time since Sasser ousted incumbent Bill Brock in 1976.

1996

[edit]

In 1996, Thompson was re-elected to a full term by 436,617 votes, defeating Democratic attorney Houston Gordon of Covington, Tennessee, even as Bill Clinton and running mate Al Gore narrowly carried the state by less than three percentage points on their way to re-election.[47] During this campaign, Mike Long served as Thompson's chief speechwriter.[48]

Committee assignments

[edit]
Senator Thompson meeting with U.S. soldiers in South Korea, 2001

In 1996, Thompson was a member of the Committee on Governmental Affairs when the committee investigated the alleged Chinese attempts to influence American politics. Thompson says he was "largely stymied" during these investigations by witnesses declining to testify, claiming the right not to incriminate themselves or by simply leaving the country.[49] Thompson explained, "Our work was affected tremendously by the fact that Congress is a much more partisan institution than it used to be."[50]

Thompson became committee chairman in 1997, but was reduced to ranking minority member when the Democrats took control of the Senate in 2001.[51] Thompson served on the Finance Committee (dealing with health care, trade, Social Security, and taxation), the Intelligence Committee, and the National Security Working Group.[52]

Thompson's work included investigation of the "Umm Hajul controversy" which involved the death of Tennessean Lance Fielder during the Gulf War. During his term, he supported campaign finance reform, opposed proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and promoted government efficiency and accountability.[12] During the 1996 presidential debates, he also served as a Clinton stand-in to help prepare Bob Dole.[12]

On February 12, 1999, the Senate voted on the Clinton impeachment. The perjury charge was defeated with 45 votes for conviction, and 55, including Thompson, against. The obstruction of justice charge was defeated with 50, including Thompson, for conviction, and 50 against. Conviction on impeachment charges requires the affirmative votes of 67 senators.

Campaign co-chairman for John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign

[edit]

In the 2000 Republican Party presidential primaries, Thompson backed former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander, who eventually succeeded Thompson in the Senate two years later. When Alexander dropped out, Thompson endorsed Senator John McCain's bid and became his national co-chairman.[53] After George W. Bush won the primaries, both McCain and Thompson were considered as potential running mates.[54][55]

Ratings

[edit]
Senator Thompson meeting with Girl Scouts

Thompson's rating from the American Conservative Union was 86.1 (1995 to 2002), compared to 89.3 for Bill Frist, and 82.3 for John McCain.[56][57] Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) characterized her colleague this way: "I believe that Fred is a fearless senator. By that I mean he was never afraid to cast a vote or take a stand, regardless of the political consequences."[58] Thompson was "on the short end of a couple of 99–1 votes", voting against those who wanted to federalize matters that he believed were properly left to state and local officials.[59]

With Thompson's decision to campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, his Senate record received some criticism from people who say he was "lazy" compared to other senators.[60] Critics say that few of his proposals became law, and point to a 1998 quote: "I don't like spending 14- and 16-hour days voting on 'sense of the Senate' resolutions on irrelevant matters. There are some important things we really need to get on with—and on a daily basis, it's very frustrating." Defenders say he spent more time in preparation than other senators. Paul Noe, a former staffer, told The New York Times, "On the lazy charge, I have to chuckle because I was there sometimes until 1 in the morning working with the man."[61]

Personal life during Senate tenure

[edit]
Fred and Jeri Thompson with their children in September 2007

In the years after his divorce, Thompson was romantically linked to country singer Lorrie Morgan, Republican fundraiser Georgette Mosbacher, future Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, and columnist Margaret Carlson.[62]

In July 1996, Thompson began dating Jeri Kehn (born 1966) and the two married almost six years later on June 29, 2002.[63] When he was asked in an Associated Press survey of the candidates in December 2007, to name his favorite possession he replied, tongue-in-cheek, "trophy wife".[64] The couple had two children together, a daughter Hayden born in 2003, and a son Samuel born in 2006.[65][66][67][68]

On January 30, 2002, Thompson's daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson Panici died from a brain injury resulting from cardiac arrest after what was determined to be an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.[69]

Initial post-Senate life and career

[edit]

Thompson was not a candidate for reelection in 2002. He had previously stated that he was unwilling to make serving in the Senate a long-term career. While he announced in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks his intention to seek reelection (declaring, "now is not the time for me to leave"), upon further reflection, he decided against running for reelection.[43] The decision seems to have been prompted in large part by the death of his daughter.[49][70]

The only lobbying work Thompson did after leaving the Senate in 2003 was for the London-based reinsurance company Equitas Ltd. He was paid $760,000 between 2004 and 2006 to help prevent passage of legislation that Equitas said unfairly singled them out for unfavorable treatment regarding asbestos claims.[25] Thompson's spokesman Mark Corrallo said that Thompson was proud to have been a lobbyist and believed in Equitas' cause.[71]

Return to acting

[edit]

As Thompson prepared to depart the Senate, he resumed his acting career. In 2002, during the final months of his Senate term, Thompson joined the cast of the NBC television series Law & Order, playing conservative District Attorney Arthur Branch, a role that he would ultimately portray for the next five years. Known in production circles and on set as, "The Liverwurst" referring to his green room requests for the Germanic dish, Thompson began filming during the August 2002 Senate recess.[12] He made occasional appearances in the same role on other TV shows, such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and the pilot episode of Conviction.

During these years, Thompson also had roles in films including Racing Stripes (2005) and Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005). He portrayed a fictional president of the United States in Last Best Chance (2005), as well as two historical presidents in TV movies: Ulysses S. Grant in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007) and the voice of Andrew Jackson in Rachel and Andrew Jackson: A Love Story (2001).[72]

Thompson, in 2007, again paused his acting career in order to pursue political options, this time stepping back from acting in order to accommodate a potential campaign for the presidency. On May 30, 2007, he asked to be released from the Law & Order role, potentially in preparation for a presidential bid.[7] Due to concerns about the equal-time rule, reruns featuring the Branch character were not shown on NBC while Thompson was a potential or actual presidential candidate, but TNT episodes were unaffected.[73]

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis

[edit]

Thompson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), a form of cancer, in 2004. In 2007, Thompson stated, "I have had no illness from it, or even any symptoms. My life expectancy should not be affected. I am in remission, and it is very treatable with drugs if treatment is needed in the future—and with no debilitating side effects." Reportedly indolent, Thompson's NHL was the lowest of three grades of NHL,[74] and was the rare nodal marginal zone lymphoma. It accounts for only 1–3% of all cases.[75]

Political activities

[edit]
Thompson speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2014

From 2002 to 2005, Thompson was head of the Federal City Council, a group of business, civic, education, and other leaders interested in economic development in Washington, DC.[76]

In March 2003, Thompson was featured in a commercial by the conservative nonprofit group Citizens United which advocated for the invasion of Iraq, "When people ask what has Saddam done to us, I ask, what had the 9/11 hijackers done to us--before 9/11."[77]

Thompson did voice-over work at the 2004 Republican National Convention.[78] While narrating a video for that convention, Thompson observed: "History throws you what it throws you, and you never know what's coming."[79]

After the retirement of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 2005, President George W. Bush appointed Thompson to an informal position to help guide the nomination of John Roberts through the United States Senate confirmation process.[80] He shared this advisory role to the nominee, a role commonly dubbed "sherpa", with former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie.[81] Roberts's nomination as associate justice was cancelled following the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist; he was renominated and confirmed as Chief Justice instead.

Until July 2007, Thompson was Chair of the International Security Advisory Board, a bipartisan advisory panel that reports to the Secretary of State and focuses on emerging strategic threats.[82] In that capacity, he advised the State Department about all aspects of arms control, disarmament, international security, and related aspects of public diplomacy.[83]

[edit]
Main article: Scooter Libby

In 2006, he served on the advisory board of the legal defense fund for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby Jr., who was indicted and later convicted of lying to federal investigators during their investigation of the Plame affair.[84][85] Thompson, who had never met Libby before volunteering for the advisory board, said he was convinced that Libby was innocent.[43] The Scooter Libby Legal Defense Fund Trust set out to raise more than $5 million to help finance the legal defense of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.[86] Thompson hosted a fundraiser for the Libby defense fund at his home in McLean, Virginia.[87] After Bush commuted Libby's sentence,[88] Thompson released a statement: "I am very happy for Scooter Libby. I know that this is a great relief to him, his wife and children. This will allow a good American, who has done a lot for his country, to resume his life."[89]

Work as a radio analyst

[edit]

In 2006, he signed on with ABC News Radio to serve as senior analyst and vacation replacement for Paul Harvey.[90] He used that platform to spell out his positions on a number of political issues. A July 3, 2007, update to Thompson's ABC News Radio home page referred to him as a "former ABC News Radio contributor", indicating that Thompson had been released from his contract with the broadcaster.[91] He did not return after his campaign ended.

Work as a columnist

[edit]

Thompson signed a deal with Salem Communications's Townhall.com to write for the organization's magazine, Townhall, from April 23, 2007, until August 21, 2007,[92] and again from June 8, 2008, until November 17, 2008.[93]

2008 presidential campaign

[edit]
Main article: Fred Thompson 2008 presidential campaign
Thompson campaigning in Iowa in 2007

Thompson ran for the Republican nomination in the 2008 United States presidential election cycle. He won 11 delegates in the Republican primaries before dropping out of the race in January 2008.

On March 11, 2007, Thompson appeared on Fox News Sunday to discuss the possibility of a 2008 candidacy for the presidency. Two weeks later Thompson asked to be released from his television contract, potentially in preparation for a presidential bid.[7] Thompson formed a presidential exploratory committee regarding his possible 2008 campaign for president on June 1, 2007,[94] but unlike most candidate exploratory groups, Thompson's organized as a 527 group.[95]

Thompson continued to be mentioned as a potential candidate, but did not officially declare his candidacy. On June 12, he told Jay Leno on The Tonight Show that while he did not crave the presidency itself, he would like to do things that he could only do by holding that office.[96] A New York Times article cited Thompson's aides as saying on July 18 that he planned to enter the race just after Labor Day, followed by a national announcement tour.[97]

On September 5, 2007, Thompson made his candidacy official, announcing on The Tonight Show that "I'm running for president of the United States" and running an ad during a Republican presidential candidates' debate on Fox News.[98] In both instances he pointed people to his campaign website to watch a 15-minute video detailing his platform. His campaign entrance was described as "lackluster"[99] and "awkward"[100] despite high expectations in anticipation of his joining the race.[101] Thompson was endorsed by the Virginia Society for Human Life and several other anti-abortion organizations.[102][103]

In nationwide polling toward the end of 2007, Thompson's support in the Republican primary election was sliding, with Thompson placing either third or fourth in polls.[104][105] On January 22, 2008, after attracting little support in the early primaries, he confirmed that he had withdrawn from the presidential race.[106] In a statement issued by his campaign he said:

Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.

Post-presidential campaign

[edit]

Political activities

[edit]

Thompson spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention on September 2 in Minnesota, where he described in graphic detail presumptive Republican nominee John McCain's torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese during his imprisonment and gave an endorsement of McCain for president.[107]

Thompson campaigned in support of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.[108]

Acting career

[edit]

Thompson signed an agreement to be represented as an actor by the William Morris Agency.[109] In 2009, he returned to acting with a guest appearance on the ABC television series Life on Mars,[110] and as William Jennings Bryan in the TV movie Alleged (2010), based on the Scopes Monkey Trial.[111] Thompson portrayed Frank Michael Thomas in the CBS series The Good Wife, based on himself. He also had roles in Disney's Secretariat (2010) and the horror film Sinister (2012). In 2014, he appeared in the film Persecuted, focusing on religious freedom, government surveillance, and censorship.[112]

Radio career

[edit]

On March 2, 2009, he took over Westwood One's East Coast noon time slot, hosting the talk radio program The Fred Thompson Show, after Bill O'Reilly ended The Radio Factor.[113] It was co-hosted for a time by his wife, Jeri. Thompson's final show for Westwood One was aired on January 21, 2011. Douglas Urbanski took Thompson's place in the Westwood One syndication lineup.[114]

Work as an advertising spokesman

[edit]

In May 2010, Thompson became an advertising spokesman for American Advisors Group, a reverse mortgage lender.[115][116]

Memoir

[edit]

Thompson's memoir, Teaching the Pig to Dance: A Memoir of Growing up and Second Chances, was published in 2010.[117][118]

Death and funeral

[edit]

On the morning of November 1, 2015, Thompson died at the age of 73; the cause of death was a recurrence of lymphoma.[119] His funeral was held on November 6, 2015, in Nashville with U.S. Senators John McCain and Lamar Alexander in attendance.[120] He was interred at Mimosa Cemetery in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee later that day.[121]

The Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building was named in his honor pursuant to legislation signed into law in June 2017.[122]

Political positions

[edit]
Thompson in Dallas on July 25, 2007

Thompson said that federalism was his "lodestar", which provides "a basis for a proper analysis of most issues: 'Is this something government should be doing? If so, at what level of government?'"[59]

Thompson said that "Roe v. Wade was bad law and bad medical science"; he felt that judges should not be determining social policy.[123] However, he also said that the government should not criminally prosecute women who undergo early-term abortions.[124][125] He did not support a federal ban on gay marriage, but would have supported a constitutional amendment to keep a state's recognition of such marriages from resulting in all states having to recognize them.[126]

He said that citizens are entitled to keep and bear arms if they do not have criminal records.[127] The Gun Owners of America says that he voted pro-gun in 20 of 33 gun-related votes during his time in the Senate.[128]

Thompson said that U.S. borders should be secured before considering comprehensive immigration reform,[129] but he also supported a path to citizenship for illegal aliens saying, "You're going to have to, in some way, work out a deal where they can have some aspirations of citizenship, but not make it so easy that it's unfair to the people waiting in line and abiding by the law."[130] Thompson supported the U.S. 2003 invasion of Iraq[131] and was opposed to withdrawing troops,[132] but believed that "mistakes have been made" since the invasion.[133]

Thompson initially supported the McCain–Feingold campaign finance legislation, but he later said that certain parts should be repealed.[134] He was skeptical that human efforts cause global warming and pointed to parallel warming on Mars and other planets as an example.[135]

Filmography

[edit]

Thompson's acting roles were credited as Fred Dalton Thompson, unless otherwise noted.

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1985 Marie Himself debut, credited as Fred Thompson
1987 No Way Out CIA Director Marshall
1988 Feds Bill Bilecki
1989 Fat Man and Little Boy Major General Melrose Hayden Barry
1990 The Hunt for Red October Rear Admiral Joshua Painter
Days of Thunder Big John
Die Hard 2 Ed Trudeau
1991 Flight of the Intruder JAGC Captain at Court-Martial Uncredited
Class Action Dr. Getchell
Necessary Roughness Carver Purcell
Cape Fear Tom Broadbent
Curly Sue Bernie Oxbar
1992 Aces: Iron Eagle III Stockman
Thunderheart William Dawes
White Sands Arms dealer Uncredited
1993 Born Yesterday Sen. Hedges
In the Line of Fire White House Chief of Staff Harry Sargent
1994 Baby's Day Out FBI Agent Dale Grissom
2002 Download This Himself
2005 Racing Stripes Sir Trenton Voice
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World Himself
2010 The Genesis Code Judge Hardin
Secretariat Arthur "Bull" Hancock
Ironmen Governor Neeley
Alleged William Jennings Bryan credited as Sen. Fred Dalton Thompson
2012 The Last Ride O'Keefe
Sinister Sheriff
2013 Unlimited Harold Finch
2014 Persecuted Fr. Charles Luther
23 Blast Coach Powers
2015 A Larger Life Robert Parker
90 Minutes in Heaven Jay B. Perkins
2016 God's Not Dead 2 Senior Pastor posthumous release, credited as Fred Thompson

Television

[edit]
Year Series Role Episode count
1988 Wiseguy Knox Pooley 3 episodes
Unholy Matrimony Frank Sweeny TV movie
1989 China Beach Lt. Col. Reinhardt 1 episode
Roseanne Keith Faber
Matlock Gordon Lewis 2 episodes
In the Heat of the Night Tommy Season 2 - Episode 18
1992 Bed of Lies Richard 'Racehorse' Haynes TV movie
Stay the Night Det. Malone
Day-O Frank DeGeorgio
Keep the Change Otis
1993 Matlock Prosecutor McGonigal 1 episode
Barbarians at the Gate James D. Robinson III TV movie
2000 Sex and the City Politician on TV 1 episode
2001 Rachel and Andrew Jackson: A Love Story President Andrew Jackson Voice, TV movie
2002–2007 Law & Order D.A. Arthur Branch 116 episodes
2003–2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 11 episodes
2004 Evel Knievel Jay Sarno TV movie
2005–2006 Law & Order: Trial by Jury D.A. Arthur Branch 13 episodes
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent 1 episode
2006 Conviction
2007 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee President Ulysses S. Grant TV movie, credited as Fred Thompson
2009 Life on Mars NYPD Chief Harry Woolf 1 episode
2011–2012 The Good Wife Frank Michael Thomas 2 episodes
2015 Allegiance FBI Director 4 episodes

Book authored

[edit]
  • At That Point in Time: The Inside Story of the Senate Watergate Committee. New York: Quadrangle. 1975. ISBN 978-0812905366.
  • Teaching the Pig to Dance: A Memoir of Growing Up and Second Chances. New York: Crown Forum. 2010. ISBN 978-0307460288.

Electoral history

[edit]
Tennessee United States Senate Election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Fred Thompson (Incumbent) 1,091,554 61.37% +0.93%
Democratic Houston Gordon 654,937 36.82%
Independent John Jay Hooker 14,401 0.81%
Majority 436,617 24.55% +2.72%
Republican hold Swing
Tennessee United States Senate Election, 1994 (Special)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Fred Thompson 885,998 60.44%
Democratic Jim Cooper 565,930 38.61%
Majority 320,068 21.83% −16.07%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Fred Thompson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Fred Dalton Thompson (August 19, 1942 – November 1, 2015) was an American attorney, actor, and Republican politician who served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1994 to 2003. Born in Sheffield, Alabama, and raised in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, Thompson earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University and began his career as a lawyer and assistant U.S. attorney. He first gained national attention in 1973 as minority counsel to the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, where he assisted Senator Howard Baker in investigating the Watergate scandal, contributing to efforts that uncovered key details about the Nixon administration's involvement. In the Senate, Thompson chaired the Governmental Affairs Committee and led investigations into campaign finance irregularities, advocating for reforms to enhance government efficiency, reduce regulatory burdens, and combat fraud in federal programs such as the IRS. His legislative efforts included supporting measures to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and promoting , though he faced criticism from Democrats for limited legislative output during his tenure. Prior to and after his Senate service, Thompson worked as a lobbyist for clients including Westinghouse and the Teamsters pension fund, representing interests in Washington policy matters. Parallel to his political career, Thompson pursued , appearing in films such as (1990) and No Way Out (1987), and achieving prominence on television as Arthur Branch on from 2002 to 2007. In 2007, he launched a bid for the Republican presidential nomination, emphasizing conservative principles on taxes, , and , but suspended his campaign in January 2008 after failing to secure primary victories or sufficient momentum. Thompson's multifaceted career bridged , , and , marked by a straightforward, no-nonsense style that appealed to conservative audiences.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Fred Dalton Thompson was born on August 19, 1942, in , to Fletcher Session Thompson, a used-car salesman, and Ruth Inez Bradley Thompson. The family relocated shortly thereafter to , a small town in Lawrence County, where Thompson grew up and attended local public schools, forging deep ties to his Southern roots. Thompson's upbringing occurred amid modest economic conditions typical of working-class families in mid-20th-century rural ; his father supplemented income through used-car sales, while his mother managed the household. Both parents had limited education, departing school after the to labor on family farms, which underscored the household's emphasis on self-reliance and diligence amid financial constraints rather than formal schooling. These circumstances cultivated Thompson's early appreciation for hard work, as he navigated the realities of a blue-collar environment in Lawrenceburg. In September 1959, at age 17, Thompson married his high school sweetheart, Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey, after she became pregnant, marking his entry into fatherhood during his teenage years and requiring him to assume adult responsibilities with limited resources. This precocious family commitment, undertaken without substantial familial wealth, further reinforced his independent streak and pragmatic approach to life's challenges in his formative environment.

Academic Pursuits and Early Employment

Thompson attended Memphis State University, earning a in and in 1964. He subsequently enrolled at School of Law, from which he received his in 1967. Following graduation, Thompson was admitted to the bar in 1967 and commenced private legal practice, initially in Lawrenceburg, his hometown. His early professional efforts reflected a commitment to building practical legal experience amid limited resources, consistent with his origins in a modest family background. In 1969, Thompson transitioned to public service as an assistant United States attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville, serving until 1972. In this role, he prosecuted federal cases, including bank robberies, honing skills in criminal litigation and investigation that informed his subsequent career. After earning his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1967, Thompson commenced his legal career as an in Nashville from 1969 to 1972, prosecuting federal criminal cases in the Middle District of . In 1974, following brief political engagements, he established a private practice in Nashville, engaging in criminal defense and civil litigation for diverse clients, including challenges to federal regulations on items like . That year, Thompson represented the fired chairman of the Tennessee Parole Board in a wrongful termination suit, which revealed initial irregularities in the state's parole system and contributed to broader scrutiny of gubernatorial practices. His earlier service as for U.S. Senator 's successful 1972 re-election bid strengthened Republican ties in , enhancing his local reputation and client network during the practice's formative years.

Role in Senate Watergate Committee

In February 1973, at the age of 30, Fred Thompson was appointed by Senate Minority Leader as minority counsel to the Senate Select on Presidential Campaign Activities, tasked with investigating the Watergate break-in amid a Democratic majority on the . Thompson's role emphasized pursuing factual truth over partisan advantage, aligning with Baker's strategy of "what did the president know and when did he know it." During the televised hearings on July 16, 1973, Thompson questioned former aide , prompting the revelation of President Richard Nixon's secret voice-activated taping system in the Oval Office, which captured conversations from 1971 onward and provided key evidence undermining the administration's denials of involvement in the scandal. Butterfield confirmed the system's existence and automatic operation without Nixon's selective intervention, a disclosure that shifted the investigation dramatically despite prior staff awareness from Butterfield's three days earlier. Prior to Butterfield's public testimony, Thompson telephoned a White House associate to inquire about the taping system's existence, an action he detailed in his 1975 book At That Point in Time: The Inside Story of the Senate Watergate Committee, asserting it aimed to verify information and facilitate voluntary disclosure rather than stage a surprise that might provoke denial. Critics, including some committee Democrats and later analysts, contended this call effectively alerted the White House, enabling preparation of a containment strategy and potentially compromising the inquiry's surprise element, though Thompson maintained it accelerated the truth's emergence by testing official response. White House tapes later released captured Nixon dismissing Thompson as "dumb as hell" in a June 29, 1973, conversation with aide , expressing skepticism about Thompson's effectiveness against Democratic counsel Samuel Dash while noting his friendliness but limited acumen. Despite this private assessment, Thompson's elicitation of the tapes' existence proved pivotal in exposing substantive evidence against the administration.

Prosecution of Tennessee Gubernatorial Corruption

In 1977, Fred Thompson represented Marie Ragghianti, the fired chairwoman of the Tennessee Board of Pardons and Paroles, in a wrongful termination lawsuit against Governor Ray Blanton's administration after she refused to approve paroles linked to bribe payments. As her attorney, Thompson gathered affidavits and evidence during pretrial discovery revealing a systematic cash-for-clemency operation, where Blanton's aides, including banker C.H. Butcher Jr., solicited payments—often $10,000 to $25,000—from inmates' associates in exchange for paroles or pardons, with funds funneled through political slush accounts. Thompson's investigative work in the case, tried in federal court in June 1978, publicly exposed the scheme's mechanics, including documented instances of over 50 such transactions, prompting a broader FBI probe into Blanton's inner circle. This testimony and evidence collection directly contributed to the 1981 federal guilty pleas and convictions of key Blanton aides, such as and former aides and Charles Traylor, on charges of , , and tied to the clemency bribes. The revelations accelerated Blanton's political downfall, culminating in his ouster on January 18, 1979, when successor Governor —forewarned of imminent additional pardons-for-cash deals—involved U.S. Attorney Hal Hardin to swear him in three days early, halting over 50 pending clemency actions and averting further abuses amid evidence of 650 total pardons issued under questionable circumstances during Blanton's term. Thompson's role earned bipartisan commendations for his nonpartisan pursuit of accountability, with Alexander later crediting the exposure for restoring in Tennessee's executive clemency process, despite Blanton's own 1981 conviction on separate charges for selling state liquor licenses.

Pre-Political Professional Endeavors

Lobbying Activities

Following his prominent legal roles, Fred Thompson transitioned into in , beginning in 1975 and continuing until 1993, when he launched his U.S. campaign. During this nearly two-decade span, he represented a range of business clients, focusing on issues such as , , and regulatory relief, while generating approximately $500,000 in income that supported his family alongside his legal and nascent acting pursuits. Thompson registered as a federal lobbyist and filed disclosures under the Lobbying Disclosure Act's predecessors, maintaining transparency in his engagements without documented major ethics violations. His primary clients numbered six, including —his first and longest-term engagement, starting in 1981—for which he advocated in support of nuclear energy development and related federal policies. Other domestic clients encompassed , two cable television firms, and the Tennessee Savings and Loan League, the latter involving efforts to secure that would ease operational constraints on financial institutions. Internationally, Thompson lobbied for Toyota Motor Corporation, addressing trade and automotive regulatory matters, as well as the Teamsters Union pension fund on investment and fiduciary issues. These representations aligned with pro-business positions, such as promoting innovation and reducing government oversight, consistent with Thompson's Republican affiliations, including prior service as to Tennessee Governor . Thompson's lobbying operated through his law firm affiliations, leveraging contacts for client access to lawmakers and executive branch officials, yet records indicate no substantiated conflicts or sanctions from oversight bodies like the Senate Ethics Committee during this pre-Senate phase. This period underscored his pragmatic approach to influence-peddling in a era of limited reform, predating his later congressional advocacy for stricter disclosure rules.

Initial Transition to Acting

Thompson's entry into acting stemmed directly from his prominence in the 1970s Tennessee gubernatorial corruption case involving Governor , where he represented whistleblower Marie Ragghianti, who exposed a cash-for-clemency scheme. In , he debuted on screen in the biographical film Marie, directed by , playing himself as Ragghianti's attorney; the casting leveraged his firsthand knowledge for narrative authenticity, as the director was impressed by Thompson during consultations with real participants. This non-fictional role marked a pragmatic extension of his legal expertise into , rather than a deliberate career overhaul. The exposure from Marie opened doors to fictional supporting parts that suited his authoritative demeanor and baritone voice, often typecasting him as government officials or military figures. In 1987, he appeared as CIA Deputy Director David Sterling in No Way Out, a starring , followed by the role of Joshua Painter in The Hunt for Red October (1990), where he portrayed a skeptical U.S. naval commander amid submarine intrigue. These early film credits capitalized on his gravitas derived from , positioning him as a reliable without requiring extensive training. Prior to his 1994 appointment to the U.S. Senate, Thompson maintained as a part-time pursuit alongside his ongoing legal practice and work in Nashville, handling a limited roster of clients in areas like and transportation while filming sporadically. This balance reflected a non-committal approach to Hollywood, with acting income supplementing rather than supplanting his primary professional commitments in and advocacy.

United States Senate Service

Appointment and Electoral Victories

Following the resignation of Senator upon his inauguration as on January 20, 1993, Governor appointed to temporarily fill the vacancy until a special election could be held for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 1997. In the August 1994 Democratic primary, U.S. Representative defeated Mathews, while Thompson won the Republican nomination unopposed. Thompson's general election campaign portrayed him as a Washington outsider skeptical of politicians, traveling in a red and advocating reduced federal government intervention. On November 8, 1994, Thompson defeated Cooper with 885,998 votes (60.7 percent) to Cooper's 565,930 (38.8 percent), a margin of 22 percentage points, reflecting the national Republican wave that year and strong backing from rural voters and suburban conservatives seeking fiscal restraint. He was sworn into office on December 2, 1994. Thompson sought re-election in 1996 for a full six-year term, again emphasizing and his non-careerist background against Democratic state Commissioner of Labor Houston Gordon. On , voters delivered a mandate for his conservative approach, granting Thompson 1,088,307 votes (61.3 percent) to Gordon's 654,969 (36.9 percent), a 24-point margin bolstered by suburban growth areas and rural strongholds wary of expansive federal programs. This victory solidified Republican control of both seats amid the state's rightward shift. In September 2002, Thompson announced he would not seek a second full term, citing a desire to avoid long-term incumbency and pursue other endeavors, and left office on January 3, 2003.

Committee Assignments and Major Investigations

Upon entering the Senate in 1994, Thompson was assigned to the Committee on Governmental Affairs, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Select Committee on Intelligence. As a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees federal government operations and efficiency, Thompson focused on accountability measures, including probes into bureaucratic waste and executive branch misconduct. His service on the Finance Committee addressed taxation, Social Security, and trade issues, while his Intelligence Committee role involved national security oversight, emphasizing threats from foreign actors over domestic political maneuvering. Thompson chaired the Governmental Affairs Committee from 1997 to 2001 during Republican majorities, directing high-profile investigations into executive branch irregularities. In 1997, he led hearings into 1996 election abuses, uncovering evidence of a deliberate Chinese plan to influence U.S. through illegal foreign contributions and transfers. The probe, often termed "Chinagate," examined ties between Democratic fundraisers like John Huang and entities linked to , including , revealing over $1 million in suspect donations funneled through U.S. intermediaries, though direct causation to policy changes remained circumstantial amid limited cooperation from the administration. Thompson's staff documented intelligence assessments of Chinese directives to for election meddling, prioritizing empirical leads over speculation despite Democratic criticisms of partisanship and calls for broader reforms. These investigations yielded bipartisan pushes for tightening, including restrictions on soft money and foreign donor scrutiny, though enactment faced gridlock. Thompson advocated reforms to curb inherent system flaws, such as unlimited bundling by officials, while defending the hearings' focus on foreign threats against accusations of overreach from outlets aligned with the administration. His approach underscored oversight as a check on executive excess, yielding verifiable documentation of illicit pathways despite incomplete prosecutions due to Justice Department hesitance.

Legislative Record and Conservative Ratings

During his eight years in the U.S. Senate from 1994 to 2003, Fred Thompson compiled a legislative record emphasizing fiscal restraint, tax reduction, and reductions in regulatory burdens, consistent with his skepticism toward expansive federal government intervention. He supported key tax cut measures, including the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which reduced capital gains taxes and introduced child tax credits, and voted for the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, extending lower income tax rates and marriage penalty relief. Thompson opposed initiatives expanding government mandates on private sectors, such as the Patients' Bill of Rights, which he criticized for promoting litigation over market-driven healthcare solutions and increasing costs without addressing underlying inefficiencies. His sponsorship efforts included ethics reforms like the Office of Government Ethics Authorization Act of 1999, aimed at strengthening oversight of federal officials' conflicts of interest, and intelligence-related measures such as extensions to government information security provisions under the Federal Information Security Management Act. In committee hearings as chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee, Thompson frequently highlighted wasteful spending, including duplicative federal programs and unchecked regulatory growth, advocating for streamlined operations to curb deficits. Conservative organizations rated Thompson highly for aligning votes with principles of and fiscal discipline. The American Conservative Union (ACU) assigned him a lifetime score of 86.1 percent from 1995 to 2002, with annual ratings consistently between 80 and 90 percent, reflecting strong support for and opposition to new entitlements. The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) gave him an 88 percent lifetime fiscal score, ranking him third among senators for conserving taxpayer resources through votes against spending expansions and for debt reduction priorities. While Thompson occasionally joined bipartisan efforts, such as regulatory accountability bills that garnered cross-aisle support, his record prioritized ideological consistency over compromise, as evidenced by lower ratings from liberal groups like the ACLU at 14 percent. Thompson announced his retirement from the in 2002, citing frustration with the institution's inertia and inability to enact meaningful reforms amid partisan gridlock and entrenched spending habits, stating it had become "dysfunctional" in advancing principled governance.

Engagement in Republican National Campaigns

Thompson endorsed U.S. Senator John McCain's bid for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination on August 18, 1999, a move described by contemporaries as providing a notable boost to McCain's underdog challenge against establishment favorites like . As political allies with overlapping views—particularly on issues like reform where both favored restrictions despite conservative criticism—Thompson offered informal strategic counsel drawn from his own experience as a Senate campaign operative and Watergate investigator. This support underscored Thompson's preference for pragmatic electability in nominees over rigid ideological litmus tests, even as McCain positioned himself as an insurgent against party insiders. Following McCain's campaign suspension on March 9, 2000, Thompson shifted focus to broader Republican cohesion, aligning with Bush's general election effort without public discord. In the , he leveraged his position to advocate for party priorities, notably deciding against in September 2001 to remain in office amid the post-9/11 national security demands, thereby bolstering support for Bush's nascent War on Terror agenda. Throughout his tenure, Thompson avoided high-profile intra-party clashes, maintaining a reputation for independent judgment within establishment bounds rather than engaging in purity-driven factionalism. This approach facilitated GOP unity on key legislative fronts, such as reforms, where he prioritized collective Republican advancement over personal or factional disputes.

Entertainment and Media Career

Acting Roles Across Career Phases

Thompson's entry into acting occurred in 1985 with the film Marie, where he portrayed himself as a key figure in a Tennessee parole board scandal, leveraging his real-life legal experience for authenticity. This debut led to supporting roles in thrillers during the late 1980s and early 1990s, prior to his 1994 Senate election, including No Way Out (1987) as a naval officer and Die Hard 2 (1990) as Colonel Stuart, a military antagonist whose authoritative demeanor reflected Thompson's prosecutorial background. In Cape Fear (1991), he played deputy marshal Tom Broadbent, again embodying law enforcement precision informed by his career in investigation and trial work. These pre-Senate appearances, typically as stern officials or adversaries, numbered fewer than a dozen features and served to supplement his lobbying and legal income without overshadowing his primary professional pursuits. During his Senate tenure from 1994 to , Thompson maintained selective acting engagements that aligned with his political schedule, prioritizing roles that echoed his governmental roles. In the final months of his term, he began portraying Manhattan District Attorney Arthur on starting in 2002, succeeding Sam Waterston's in the prosecutorial hierarchy and infusing the character with gravitas drawn from his own oversight of investigations like Watergate. This television commitment, which extended into 2007 across the original series and briefly Law & Order: Trial by Jury, allowed Thompson to balance with performance, as the part-time filming accommodated his senatorial duties until retirement. His depiction of as a principled, no-nonsense conservative complemented his real-world legislative focus on and , enhancing his public image without dominating it. Post-Senate, Thompson's acting provided financial stability in retirement while reinforcing his persona as a credible authority figure, with residuals and episodes forming the bulk of his screen time through 2007. He appeared in fewer films thereafter, such as Sinister (2012) in a minor advisory role, but emphasized television formats that capitalized on his legal authenticity rather than pursuing stardom. Overall, these roles across phases—initial film cameos, selective Senate-era TV, and post-retirement leads—totaled around 30 credits, underscoring how acting augmented rather than eclipsed his prosecutorial and political legacy, often casting him in positions of command that mirrored his firsthand expertise in justice systems.

Radio Commentary and Columnist Work

Thompson hosted The Fred Thompson Show, a two-hour daily conservative talk radio program syndicated by Westwood One, which debuted on March 2, 2009, and aired live weekdays from noon to 2 p.m. Eastern Time until 2011. The program covered politics and topical issues, with Thompson frequently critiquing Obama administration policies on fiscal matters, including bank bailout plans and broader government spending that he argued contributed to rising deficits and national debt. He stated explicitly that he hoped for the failure of those policies, which he believed would lead the United States in the wrong direction economically and otherwise. Thompson's delivery, marked by his authentic Tennessee drawl and drawing on his Senate experience, resonated with audiences seeking a straightforward, optimistic conservative voice reminiscent of Ronald Reagan's emphasis on limited government and individual liberty. In parallel, Thompson wrote columns for the conservative outlet , addressing themes of excessive federal spending, opposition to , and vigilance against international threats. For instance, in a June 13, 2008, column titled "A Supreme Error," he criticized a U.S. ruling for exemplifying activist overreach that undermined constitutional principles and legislative intent. Another piece, "Dangerous Times in Georgia Demand Serious Leadership" on August 14, 2008, highlighted the Russia-Georgia conflict as a reminder of resurgent authoritarian aggression, urging robust U.S. responses to deter and geopolitical instability. These writings reinforced his advocacy for fiscal discipline and a strong national defense, positioning him as a media commentator who prioritized empirical critiques of over partisan expediency.

Advertising Spokesman and Other Media Contributions

After leaving the Senate in 2003, Thompson took on commercial endorsement roles that capitalized on his recognizable voice and authoritative persona. In May 2010, he became the paid spokesman for American Advisors Group (AAG), a reverse mortgage lender, appearing in numerous television commercials until his death in 2015. These ads featured Thompson explaining reverse mortgage benefits to retirees, often in scenarios emphasizing financial security in later years, with him delivering lines like addressing a neighbor's inquiry about retirement options. His involvement helped maintain AAG's national visibility through dozens of spots aired over five years. Thompson also lent his narration to conservative-leaning documentaries, drawing on his political background. In 2009, he narrated Perfect Valor, a Citizens United Productions film highlighting acts of heroism by U.S. military personnel in and , which premiered at the GI Film Festival. This role aligned with his support for themes, though he did not shift primarily to documentary work. In addition to these contributions, Thompson made occasional minor television guest appearances post-Senate, including roles on The Good Wife and NBC's Allegiance in 2015, without pursuing a full return to acting. These limited engagements reflected his continued media presence while prioritizing policy commentary over entertainment pursuits.

2008 Presidential Campaign

Campaign Announcement and Core Platform

Fred Thompson formed an for a presidential bid on June 1, 2007, signaling the start of his late entry into the Republican primaries after months of speculation. He formally announced his candidacy on September 5, 2007, through an online video on his campaign website, followed by an in-person speech in , the next day. In the announcement, Thompson positioned himself as a "common-sense conservative" outsider, drawing on his Watergate committee experience and tenure to emphasize integrity and fiscal restraint, while critiquing the Republican Party's drift toward expansive under recent . Thompson's core platform centered on reducing federal spending, bolstering national defense, and upholding traditional values to restore principles. He pledged to eliminate wasteful spending, referencing his 2001 Senate Governmental Affairs Committee report "Government at the Brink," which identified billions in potential savings through efficiency reforms. On defense, he advocated for a robust , enhanced capabilities, and unwavering resolve against , warning that threats demanded proactive strength rather than hesitation. Regarding values, Thompson supported the sanctity of life, parental choice in education, and market-based healthcare solutions, framing these as essential to preserving American family structures and individual liberties amid cultural shifts. The late announcement generated initial hype as a fresh conservative alternative, with Thompson highlighting his fiscal hawk record—earning high marks from the National Taxpayers Union during his years—but also drew early criticism for organizational shortcomings in campaign staffing and strategy. He urged Republicans to reclaim the 1994 "" ethos of smaller government to avert a Democratic resurgence, positioning his bid as a return to principled governance over partisan complacency.

Primary Performance and Withdrawal

Thompson entered the Republican primaries with significant pre-announcement buzz, leading national polls with as much as 24% support among GOP voters in mid-2007 surveys that positioned him as a conservative alternative to the early field. However, his formal launch on September 5, 2007, came after months of exploratory efforts, allowing competitors like and to establish stronger ground organizations in key early states. This late start contributed to organizational shortcomings, as Thompson's campaign struggled to translate polling hype into and delegate gains amid a fragmented field. In the on January 3, 2008, Thompson placed fifth with 13% of the vote, trailing Huckabee's evangelical-driven 34%, Romney's 25%, John McCain's 17%, and Ron Paul's 10%, highlighting a to consolidate conservative support against Huckabee's surge. The primary on January 19 yielded a third-place finish at 16%, behind McCain's 33% and Huckabee's 30%, but ahead of Romney's 15%, yet this result underscored persistent momentum loss rather than a breakthrough in a state where pre-launch polls had shown him competitive. Despite raising approximately $21.6 million by the end of 2007—placing him behind leading contenders—the campaign's expenditures on media and did not yield proportional electoral returns, exacerbated by perceptions of low and inadequate attacks on rivals. Thompson suspended his campaign on January 22, 2008, in , just before the state's January 29 primary, stating that he could not achieve a viable path to the nomination and endorsing McCain to promote Republican unity. Analysts attributed the underperformance primarily to structural hurdles, including the delayed entry that hindered field operations in caucus states and a crowded primary diluting conservative votes, rather than personal scandals or policy missteps; subtle health concerns from his non-Hodgkin's , though undisclosed publicly at the time, may have indirectly affected campaign vigor, while media speculation on his wife Jeri Kehn Thompson's advisory role drew scrutiny without derailing the effort through controversy. No major ethical issues emerged, but the inability to sustain initial excitement amid Huckabee's win and McCain's Southern momentum sealed the withdrawal.

Political Ideology and Positions

Fiscal and Economic Policies

During his tenure as U.S. Senator from from 1995 to 2003, Fred Thompson advocated for fiscal restraint through lower taxes, spending controls, and entitlement reforms to address long-term solvency issues. He consistently opposed tax increases, arguing that they hindered economic growth, and supported the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, which reduced rates across brackets and expanded child credits. Thompson also backed the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, which accelerated the phase-in of lower rates and provided relief on capital gains and dividends, viewing such cuts as essential stimuli for investment and job creation. Thompson warned repeatedly of the impending insolvency of entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, driven by demographic shifts and unchecked benefit growth. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, he pushed for reforms such as indexing future Social Security benefits to the rather than wages, a change intended to align payouts more closely with inflation while preserving benefits for current retirees. He voted for a balanced-budget in 1997, emphasizing the need to curb federal deficits that exacerbated entitlement shortfalls. On deregulation, Thompson championed measures requiring federal agencies to justify new rules through rigorous cost-benefit analyses, including a provision he authored that mandated annual reporting on regulatory burdens to enhance transparency and reduce unnecessary compliance costs for businesses. In 1997, as chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, he led hearings investigating 1996 abuses, uncovering evidence of foreign attempts—particularly from —to influence U.S. elections through illegal contributions, which he framed as a threat to economic sovereignty and fair markets. Thompson supported agreements as drivers of but with protections against unfair practices, stating that "free and fair trade is the backbone of our economy" while advocating safeguards for and . His record earned high marks from conservative groups; the rated it as "generally pro-growth" with an excellent score on entitlement reform, countering claims of fiscal expansionism by highlighting consistent votes for tax relief and spending limits over his eight years. Critics from the left, however, argued his approach lacked sufficient measures against income inequality, though empirical tallies of his votes—such as opposition to new spending mandates—demonstrated alignment with market-oriented rather than .

Social and Cultural Issues

Thompson espoused traditional conservative positions on social and cultural matters, rooted in a preference for of structures' role in societal stability over expansive government mandates or judicial inventions. He advocated limiting federal involvement in areas like and , arguing that decentralized decision-making better reflected community values and parental authority. While some critics on the left labeled his views as extreme, Thompson's record and public statements demonstrated a pragmatic approach, avoiding inflammatory in favor of legislative restraint and states' prerogatives. On abortion, Thompson maintained a pro-life stance, asserting that life begins at conception and that ends an innocent human life. He received endorsements from the and described himself as 100 percent pro-life in his Senate voting record, supporting measures to restrict the procedure while acknowledging early campaign comments against prohibiting early-term abortions in 1994. Thompson backed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, which prohibited the method without exceptions for the mother's health beyond physical endangerment, prioritizing fetal protection based on medical testimony that such exceptions could be broadly interpreted. Thompson championed Second Amendment rights, earning an "A" rating from the during his Senate tenure and lifetime membership in the organization. He opposed federal expansions, viewing them as infringing on individual and rural traditions without empirical reductions in crime rates, as evidenced by studies showing defensive gun uses outnumbered criminal ones. In , he supported initiatives, including vouchers and homeschooling protections, to enable parental empowerment over bureaucratic monopolies. Thompson criticized the No Child Left Behind Act—despite voting for it in 2001—for increasing federal overreach without improving outcomes, proposing instead block grants to states for flexible allocation and competition-driven reforms. Regarding marriage, Thompson deferred to states' rights pre-Obergefell v. Hodges, opposing same-sex marriage but rejecting a full constitutional ban in favor of an amendment preventing judges from imposing it federally or statewide without legislative consent. This position aimed to curb while allowing democratic processes at the state level to address cultural shifts. Thompson critiqued judicial overreach as a driver of cultural controversies, attributing issues like same-sex marriage recognition to activist courts overriding electoral majorities. He advocated originalist judicial appointments to restrain such encroachments, emphasizing fidelity to constitutional text over evolving social norms.

National Security and Foreign Affairs

As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 1997 to 2003, Fred Thompson focused on threats from weapons of mass destruction proliferation and unconventional weapons, notably highlighting China's military advancements and espionage risks in a 1999 report. He participated in investigations into pre-September 11 intelligence failures, scrutinizing systemic shortcomings in counterterrorism efforts across administrations that contributed to vulnerabilities exploited by al-Qaeda. Thompson advocated for a strong U.S. global presence to deter international lawlessness and protect vital interests, emphasizing the need for enhanced intelligence capabilities to preempt threats. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Thompson voted in favor of the USA PATRIOT Act on October 25, 2001, supporting expanded surveillance powers to combat terrorism while serving on the Intelligence Committee. He criticized prior U.S. responses to terrorist incidents, such as the 1998 embassy bombings and 2000 USS Cole attack, as insufficiently aggressive, arguing that hesitation under the Clinton administration emboldened adversaries by failing to project decisive strength. In line with a realist approach prioritizing deterrence, Thompson called for military modernization and expansion, proposing in 2007 to increase defense spending to 4.5% of GDP and fully fund next-generation systems to maintain dominance across battle spaces. Thompson backed the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, viewing Saddam Hussein's regime as a proliferation risk and supporter of requiring preemptive action. A staunch ally of , he made his first senatorial trip there and consistently opposed pressuring the state to negotiate with groups like , designated as terrorists, while warning of "Islamic fascism" as an existential threat demanding vigilant containment. Conservatives commended his emphasis on causal deterrence through credible military power over appeasement, though left-leaning outlets labeled him neoconservative for favoring interventions to neutralize threats rather than multilateral restraint. This perspective stemmed from empirical assessments of deterrence failures, such as inadequate responses to early strikes, rather than ideological overreach.

Personal Life

Marriages and Family Dynamics

Fred Thompson married his high school sweetheart, Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey, on September 12, 1959, at the age of 17, shortly after she became pregnant. The couple had three children: Freddie Dalton "Tony" Thompson Jr. (born 1960), Daniel Lindsey Thompson, and Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson (who died in 2002). Their marriage lasted 26 years until their divorce in 1985. Lindsey's family provided significant support during Thompson's early career, including assistance through law school, which facilitated his professional development in law and politics. Following his divorce, Thompson began dating Jeri Kehn, a Republican political consultant and former staffer, in 1996. They married on June 29, 2002, when Thompson was 59 and Kehn was 38, drawing media attention to their 21-year age difference but without ensuing scandal. The couple had two children: daughter Hayden Victoria Thompson (born November 2003) and son Samuel Thompson (born October 2006). Jeri Thompson largely stepped back from public political activities after the births to focus on family, reflecting a prioritization of child-rearing amid Thompson's Senate duties. Thompson's family from both marriages demonstrated support for his career transitions, including from acting to Senate service; notably, Sarah Lindsey actively campaigned for him during his successful 1994 Senate bid. Publicly, Thompson frequently invoked as central to his conservative worldview, portraying his personal life as aligned with traditional principles of responsibility and stability. Despite the blended family structure, no major public conflicts emerged during his lifetime regarding familial dynamics. Following his departure from the U.S. Senate in 2003, Thompson provided public support and fundraising assistance for the legal defense of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, to , who faced and obstruction charges in the CIA leak investigation. As a member of the for the Libby Legal Defense Trust, Thompson attended Libby's trial proceedings in early 2007 to demonstrate solidarity and hosted events to raise funds for the effort. He publicly criticized the prosecution's tactics, arguing that the case did not warrant a due to insufficient evidence of underlying criminal conduct and accusing the process of prosecutorial overreach by U.S. Attorney . Thompson advocated for a presidential for Libby, who was convicted in March 2007 and sentenced to 30 months in prison, later commuted by President . Post-2008, after withdrawing from his presidential bid, Thompson offered occasional political endorsements reflecting allegiance to fellow conservatives, including an explicit backing of Senator John McCain's Republican nomination in March 2008, urging party unity behind McCain's experience and judgment. He avoided a return to paid or extensive legal practice, conducting only limited representational work immediately after leaving the —primarily for the reinsurance firm Equitas Ltd., for which he received approximately $760,000—and instead prioritized media commentary and acting roles over courtroom advocacy.

Health Issues and Death

Diagnosis and Management of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

In 2004, Fred Thompson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, specifically the slow-growing subtype known as . This form of the disease is characterized by indolent progression, often allowing patients to remain for extended periods, as Thompson reported never feeling ill from it. The occurred after routine medical evaluation, prior to his public disclosure three years later. Thompson underwent treatment with rituximab (Rituxan), a targeting proteins, administered approximately one year before his 2007 announcement. This , rather than conventional , proved effective without causing debilitating side effects, enabling him to maintain his acting career on Law & Order and other professional engagements uninterrupted. Post-treatment scans confirmed complete remission, with his physician noting a positive due to the cancer's responsiveness and Thompson's lack of residual symptoms. He publicly disclosed the on April 11, , via a statement emphasizing its manageability and current remission status, amid about a presidential bid. Thompson described the condition as "very treatable with drugs if treatment is needed in the future," reflecting a stoic approach that minimized perceived severity while affirming ongoing medical monitoring. Medical experts corroborated that such indolent lymphomas permit long-term survival, often exceeding 20 years, with retreatment options like available for potential recurrence without immediate life-threatening impact. This management strategy supported his resilience, as evidenced by sustained professional activity and no reported hindrance to his campaign launch.

Final Years, Death, and Funeral Arrangements

In his , Thompson continued selective acting roles, including appearances in films such as 90 Minutes in Heaven released in September 2015, while managing health challenges at his Nashville home. He had largely stepped back from active following his unsuccessful 2008 presidential bid, focusing instead on family and occasional public commentary on conservative principles. Thompson died on November 1, 2015, at his home in , at the age of 73, due to a recurrence of , as confirmed by his family in a public statement. The family noted his peaceful passing surrounded by loved ones, underscoring his private battle with the illness in recent months. Funeral services were held on November 6, 2015, at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, attended by family, friends, and political figures who shared anecdotes highlighting Thompson's wit, integrity, and bipartisan respect earned through his Watergate counsel role and Senate tenure. Eulogies emphasized his commitment to truth-seeking and public service, with tributes from Republican colleagues praising his principled conservatism, while obituaries in major outlets acknowledged cross-aisle admiration despite varied media portrayals of his career. He was buried in Mimosa Cemetery in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

Electoral History

Thompson was elected to the United States Senate from in the November 8, 1994, general election, defeating Democratic congressman after winning the Republican primary unopposed. He took office on December 2, 1994, following certification of the results.
ElectionOfficePartyVotesPercentageOpponent(s)VotesPercentage
1994 GeneralU.S. Senator (TN)Republican885,99860.44% (Democrat)565,93038.61%
Thompson won re-election on November 5, 1996, against Democratic Houston Gordon and several independents, securing a full six-year term.
VotesPercentageOpponent(s)VotesPercentage
1996 GeneralU.S. Senator (TN)Republican1,091,55461.37%Houston Gordon (Democrat)654,93736.82%
Thompson declined to seek a second full term in 2002, retiring from the Senate on January 3, 2003. In , he launched a campaign for the Republican presidential nomination ahead of the , announcing his candidacy on 5. The effort faltered in ; he placed sixth in the Republican caucuses on January 3, , and sixth in the Republican primary on January 19, , prompting him to suspend his campaign on without endorsing another candidate at the time.

Filmography

Thompson began his acting career in 1985 with the film Marie, a dramatization of a political corruption case in which he had served as an attorney. He appeared in more than 20 feature films over three decades, frequently cast in authoritative roles such as military officers, law enforcement officials, and government figures, leveraging his background as a lawyer and senator. Notable films include The Hunt for Red October (1990), where he portrayed Admiral James Greer, a recurring character in Tom Clancy adaptations. His television work included guest spots on series like Matlock and a prominent recurring role as Manhattan District Attorney Arthur Branch on Law & Order from 2002 to 2007, earning two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Films

YearTitleRole
1985MarieDeputy Governor
1987No Way OutMarshal
1990Big John
1990Admiral James Greer
1990Trenton Airport Police Chief
1991Cape FearCourt Officer
1993White House Chief of Staff Harry Sargent
1994FBI Agent Dale Grissom
2010SecretariatBull Hancock
2012SinisterSheriff
2014PersecutedSenator Donald Harrison
All film credits verified via IMDb database.

Television

Year(s)TitleRoleEpisodes
1986–1994MatlockVarious (Judge, Lawyer)Multiple
2002–2007Law & OrderDA Arthur Branch117
2007–2011Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDA Arthur Branch6
2010–2016The Good WifeFrank Michael Thomas / Jonas Stern2
Television credits primarily from long-running legal dramas, aligning with Thompson's real-life legal expertise.

Bibliography

[Bibliography - no content]

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