Fred Thompson

This article is about the politician and actor. For other uses, see Fred Thompson (disambiguation).
Fred Thompson
United States Senator
from Tennessee
In office
December 2, 1994 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by Harlan Mathews
Succeeded by Lamar Alexander
Chairperson of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee
In office
January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001
Preceded by Joe Lieberman
Succeeded by Joe Lieberman
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by Ted Stevens
Succeeded by Joe Lieberman
Personal details
Born Freddie Dalton Thompson
(1942-08-19)August 19, 1942
Sheffield, Alabama, U.S.
Died November 1, 2015(2015-11-01) (aged 73)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Sarah Knestrick (1959–1985)
Jeri Kehn (2002–2015)
Children 5
Alma mater Memphis State University (B.A.)
Vanderbilt University (J.D.)
Religion Churches of Christ

Fred Dalton Thompson[1][2][3] (born Freddie Dalton Thompson; August 19, 1942 – November 1, 2015) was an American politician, actor, attorney, lobbyist, columnist, and radio host. Thompson, a Republican, served in the United States Senate representing Tennessee from 1994 to 2003, as well as a GOP presidential candidate in 2008.

Thompson served as chairman of the International Security Advisory Board at the United States Department of State, was a member of the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and was a Visiting Fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, specializing in national security and intelligence.[4][5][6]

As an actor, Thompson appeared in a number of movies and television shows as well as in commercials. He frequently portrayed governmental figures.[7] In the final months of his U.S. Senate term in 2002, Thompson joined the cast of the long-running NBC television series Law & Order, playing Manhattan District Attorney Arthur Branch.[8]

Early life and education

Thompson was born in Sheffield, Alabama on August 19, 1942, the son of Ruth Inez (née Bradley) and Fletcher Session Thompson (born Lauderdale County, Alabama, August 26, 1919, died Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, May 27, 1990), who was an automobile salesman.[9][10] He attended public school in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, graduating from Lawrence County High School, where he played high school football.[11] Thereafter, he worked days in the local post office, and nights at the Murray bicycle assembly plant.[12]

Thompson then entered Florence State College (now the University of North Alabama), becoming the first member of his family to go to university.[13] He later transferred to Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis, where he earned a double degree in philosophy and political science in 1964, as well as scholarships to both Tulane and Vanderbilt University law schools.[12] He went on to earn his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Vanderbilt Law School in 1967.[13]

Career as an attorney

Thompson was admitted to the State Bar of Tennessee in 1967. At that time, he shortened his first name from Freddie to Fred.[14] He worked as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1969 to 1972,[15] successfully prosecuting bank robberies and other cases.[12] Thompson was the campaign manager for Republican U.S. Senator Howard Baker's reelection 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, D.C.,[16] handling personal injury claims and defending people accused of white collar crimes.[17] 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][13]

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.[19]

Role in Watergate hearings

Main article: Watergate scandal
From left to right: Fred 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.[20] Thompson was sometimes credited for supplying Republican Senator Howard Baker's famous question, "What did the President know, and when did he know it?"[21] This question is said to have helped frame the hearings in a way that eventually led to the downfall of President Richard Nixon.[22]

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.[23] "Even though I had no authority to act for the committee, I decided to call Fred Buzhardt at home," Thompson later wrote,[24] "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' 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 existence 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][20] National Public Radio later called that session and the discovery of the Watergate tapes "a turning point in the investigation."[25]

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.[21] 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]."[21] When the Watergate investigation began to pick up speed, tapes revealed that Nixon remarked to his then-Chief of Staff Alexander Haig, "Oh shit, he's dumb as hell."[26]

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.[27] 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."[27]

Corruption case against Tennessee governor

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 in order to obtain clemency.[28] With Thompson's assistance, Ragghianti filed a wrongful termination suit against Blanton's office. During the trial, Thompson helped expose the cash-for-clemency scheme that eventually led to Blanton's removal from office.[18] In July 1978, a jury awarded Ragghianti $38,000 in back pay and ordered her reinstatement.[28]

Lobbyist

Thompson earned about one million dollars in total from his lobbying efforts. Except for the year 1981, his lobbying never amounted to more than one-third of his income.[29] According to the Commercial Appeal newspaper:

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.[29]

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.[30] Thompson received $1,600 for communicating with some congressional staffers on this issue.[29]

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 says that was as a private citizen, not on a paid basis on Aristide's behalf.[31]

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.[32][33]

After leaving the Senate in 2003, Thompson's only lobbying work was for the London-based reinsurance company Equitas Ltd. He was paid $760,000 between 2004 and 2006 in order to help prevent passage of legislation that Equitas said unfairly singled them out for unfavorable treatment regarding asbestos claims.[19] Thompson spokesman Mark Corrallo said that Thompson was proud to have been a lobbyist and believed in Equitas' cause.[34]

After Thompson was elected to the Senate, two of his sons followed him into the lobbying business,[35] but generally avoided clients where a possible conflict-of-interest might appear.[35] When he left the Senate, some of his political action committee's fees went to the lobbying firm of one of his sons.[36]

Acting career

Marie Ragghianti's case became the subject of a book, Marie, 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 in the 1987 film No Way Out.[37] In 1990, he was cast as Trudeau, the head of Dulles Airport, in the action sequel Die Hard 2, as an admiral 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 would go on to appear in many films and television shows. A 1994 New York Times profile wrote "When Hollywood directors need someone who can personify governmental power, they often turn to [Thompson]."[7] He portrayed a fictional President of the United States in Last Best Chance as well as two historical presidents: 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 (both produced for TV).[38]

In the final months of his U.S. Senate term in 2002, Thompson joined the cast of the long-running NBC television series Law & Order, playing conservative District Attorney Arthur Branch for the next five years. 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. On May 30, 2007, he asked to be released from the role, potentially in preparation for a presidential bid.[8] 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.[39]

In May 2007 he took a break from acting in order to run for the Republican nomination for president in the 2008 election, winning 11 delegates before dropping out of the race in January 2008. In 2009, he returned to acting with a guest appearance on the ABC television series Life on Mars[40] and in the movie Alleged, about the Scopes Trial.[41]

Senate (1994–2003)

Fred Thompson, 2002

Two campaigns for U.S. Senate

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."[42] In a good year for Republican candidates,[43] Thompson defeated Cooper in a landslide, overcoming Cooper's early 20 percent lead in the polls to defeat him by an even greater margin.[44] 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.

In 1996, Thompson was re-elected (for the term ending January 3, 2003) with 61 percent of the vote, 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.[45] During this campaign, Mike Long served as Thompson's chief speechwriter.[46] The GOP continues to hold the seat, as it was won by former Tennessee Governor and Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander in 2002. Frist won re-election in 2000 before retiring in 2006, when Bob Corker held the seat for the Republicans despite the Democrats winning control of the House and Senate.

Electoral history

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

Senate career

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.[47] Thompson explained, "Our work was affected tremendously by the fact that Congress is a much more partisan institution than it used to be."[48]

Thompson became committee chairman in 1997 but was reduced to ranking minority member when the Democrats took control of the Senate in 2001.[49] Thompson served on the Finance Committee (dealing with health care, trade, Social Security, and taxation), the Intelligence Committee, and the National Security Working Group.[50]

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

In the 2000 Republican 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.[51] After George W. Bush won the primaries, both McCain and Thompson were considered as potential running mates.[52][53]

Thompson was not a candidate for re-election in 2002. He had publicly stated his unwillingness to have the Senate become a long-term career. Although he announced in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks his intention to seek re-election ("Now is not the time for me to leave," said Thompson at the time), upon further reflection he decided against it.[37] The decision seems to have been prompted in large part by the death of his daughter.[47][54]

Ratings

Senator Thompson meeting with Girl Scouts.

Thompson had an 86.1 percent lifetime (1995–2002) American Conservative Union vote rating, compared to 89.3 for Bill Frist and 82.3 for John McCain.[55][56] 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."[57] 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.[58]

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.[59] 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."[60]

Post-Senate activities

Political work

In March 2003, Thompson was featured in a commercial by the conservative non-profit group Citizens United that advocated the invasion of Iraq, stating: "When people ask what has Saddam done to us, I ask, what had the 9/11 hijackers done to us -- before 9/11."[61]

Thompson did voice-over work at the 2004 Republican National Convention.[62] While narrating a video for that convention, Thompson observed: "History throws you what it throws you, and you never know what’s coming."[63]

After the retirement of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 2005, Bush appointed Thompson to an informal position to help guide the nomination of John Roberts through the United States Senate confirmation process.[64] Roberts was subsequently confirmed as Chief Justice.

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.[65] In that capacity, he advised the State Department about all aspects of arms control, disarmament, international security, and related aspects of public diplomacy.[66]

Legal defense for Lewis Libby

Main article: Lewis 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.[67][68] Thompson, who had never met Libby before volunteering for the advisory board, said he was convinced Libby was innocent.[37] 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.[69] Thompson hosted a fundraiser for the Libby defense fund at his home in McLean, Virginia.[70] After Bush commuted Libby's sentence,[71] 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."[72]

Radio analyst

In 2006, he signed on with ABC News Radio to serve as senior analyst and vacation replacement for Paul Harvey.[73] 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.[74] He did not return after his campaign ended.

Columnist

He 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,[75] and from June 8, 2008 until November 17, 2008.[76] In March 2010, About.com, owned by The New York Times Company, named Thompson one of the top 20 conservatives to follow on Twitter.[77]

2008 presidential campaign

Thompson in Iowa, 2007

On March 11, 2007, Thompson appeared on Fox News Sunday to discuss the possibility of a 2008 candidacy for president. At the end of March, Thompson asked to be released from his television contract, potentially in preparation for a presidential bid.[8] Thompson formed a presidential exploratory committee regarding his possible 2008 campaign for president on June 1, 2007,[78] but unlike most candidate exploratory groups, Thompson's organized as a 527 group.[79]

Thompson continued to be mentioned as a potential candidate, but did not officially declare his candidacy. On June 12, Thompson told Jay Leno on The Tonight Show that while he did not crave the presidency itself, there were things he would like to do that he could only do by holding that office.[80] 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 (the first Monday in September), followed by a national announcement tour.[81]

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.[82] In both cases he pointed people to his campaign website to watch a 15-minute video detailing his platform. His campaign entrance was described as "lackluster"[83] and "awkward"[84] despite high expectations in anticipation of his joining the race.[85] Fred Thompson was endorsed by the Virginia Society for Human Life and several other Pro Life organizations.[86][87]

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.[88][89]

On January 22, 2008, after attracting little support in the early primaries, Thompson confirmed he had withdrawn from the Presidential race.[90] In a statement issued by his campaign, Thompson 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-campaign

Thompson signed an agreement to be returned as an actor with the William Morris Agency.[91]

He 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.

In 2009 he returned to acting with a guest appearance on the ABC television series Life on Mars[40] and as William Jennings Bryan in the TV movie Alleged, based on the Scopes Monkey Trial.[41] Thompson portrays Frank Michael Thomas in the CBS series The Good Wife; besides having a similar name, Thomas also shares Thompson's love for acting and the law.

On March 2, 2009 he took over on 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.[92] 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.[93]

In May 2010, Thompson became an advertising spokesman for American Advisors Group, a reverse mortgage lender.[94][95]

In 2014, Thompson appeared in a film, Persecuted, on religious freedom, government surveillance and censorship.[96]

Political positions

Thompson visits 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?'"[58]

Thompson stated that "Roe v. Wade was bad law and bad medical science," and that judges should not be determining social policy.[97] Thompson stated the government should not criminally prosecute women who undergo early term abortions.[98][99]

Thompson did not support a federal ban on gay marriage but would have supported a constitutional amendment to keep one state's recognition of such marriages from resulting in all states having to recognise them.[100]

Thompson said citizens are entitled to keep and bear arms if they do not have criminal records[101] and the Gun Owners of America says that he voted pro-gun in 20 of 33 gun-related votes during his time in the Senate.[102]

Thompson said that U.S. borders should be secured before considering comprehensive immigration reform,[103] 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.”[104] Thompson supported the U.S. 2003 invasion of Iraq[105] and was opposed to withdrawing troops,[106] but believed that "mistakes have been made" since the invasion.[107]

Thompson initially supported the McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation, but later said that certain parts should be repealed.[108]

Thompson was skeptical that human efforts cause global warming and pointed to parallel warming on Mars and other planets as an example.[109]

Personal life

Marriages and children

Fred and Jeri Thompson with children in September 2007

In September 1959, at the age of 17, Thompson married Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey.[110] Their son, Freddie Dalton "Tony" Thompson, Jr.,[2] was born in April 1960.[111] Son Daniel and daughter Ruth Elizabeth were born soon thereafter. While Thompson was attending law school, both his wife and he worked to pay for his education and support their three children.[18]

The couple divorced in 1985. They have two surviving children,[112] as well as five grandchildren. Thompson's daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson Panici died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs on January 30, 2002.[47][54]

While single, Thompson had been romantically linked to country singer Lorrie Morgan, Republican fundraiser Georgette Mosbacher, and columnist Margaret Carlson.[113]

In July 1996, Thompson began dating Jeri Kehn (born 1966) and the two married almost six years later on June 29, 2002.[114] When Thompson was asked in a December 2007 Associated Press survey of the candidates to name his favorite possession, he replied, tongue-in-cheek "trophy wife".[115] The couple have two children, a daughter Hayden born in 2003 and a son Samuel born in 2006.[116][117][118][119]

Religion

Thompson was raised in the Church of Christ. According to Thompson, his values come from "sitting around the kitchen table" with his parents, and from the Church of Christ. While talking to reporters in South Carolina, Thompson said, "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."[120] On occasion, Thompson attended Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Virginia.[121] He did not speak much about his religion during his 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."[120]

Cancer and death

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."[122] Reportedly indolent, Thompson's NHL was the lowest of three grades of NHL,[122] and was the rare nodal marginal zone lymphoma. It accounts for only one to three percent of all cases.[123]

On the morning of November 1, 2015, Thompson died from a recurrence of lymphoma at the age of 73.[124] His funeral was held on November 6 in Nashville with senators John McCain and Lamar Alexander in attendance.[125] He was later interred at Mimosa Cemetery in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee that same day.[126]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1985 Marie Himself Fred Thompson's first film
1987 No Way Out CIA Director Marshall
1988 Unholy Matrimony Frank Sweeny TV film
Feds Bill Bilecki
1989 Fat Man and Little Boy Maj. Gen. Melrose Hayden Barry Movie about the Manhattan Project. Thompson's character may loosely be based on General Brehon B. Somervell, who oversaw the construction of the Pentagon.
1990 The Hunt for Red October Rear Admiral Joshua Painter
Days of Thunder Big John
Die Hard 2 Trudeau
1991 Flight of the Intruder Court-Martial Captain
Necessary Roughness Carver Purcell
Class Action Dr. Getchell
Curly Sue Bernie Oxbar
Cape Fear Tom Broadbent
1992 Aces: Iron Eagle III Stockman
Bed of Lies Richard 'Racehorse' Haynes TV Film
Thunderheart William Dawes Loosely based on the Wounded Knee Incident
White Sands Arms dealer
Stay the Night Det. Malone TV Film
Day-O Frank DeGeorgio TV Film
Keep the Change Otis TV Film
1993 Barbarians at the Gate James D. Robinson III TV Film about the 1988 leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco.
Born Yesterday Sen. Hedges Remake of the 1950 film based on Born Yesterday, a play by Garson Kanin.
In the Line of Fire White House Chief of Staff Harry Sargent
1994 Baby's Day Out FBI Agent Dale Grissom
2001 Rachel and Andrew Jackson: A Love Story President Andrew Jackson Voice
2004 Evel Knievel Jay Sarno TV Film
2005 Racing Stripes Sir Trenton (voice only)
2005 Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World Himself Although Thompson plays himself, it is a slightly fictionalized version.
2007 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee President Ulysses S. Grant Based on the book of the same name, which is about the Native American experience in the American West during the late 19th century.
2010 Ironmen Governor Neeley
Secretariat Arthur "Bull" Hancock Film is about the United States' Hall of Fame racehorse Secretariat.
The Genesis Code Judge Hardin Film is based on debates about the relationship between religion and science.
Alleged William Jennings Bryan Film is about the 1925 Scopes Trial.
2011 The Last Ride O'Keefe Film is about legendary country music singer Hank Williams's self-destruction due to his dangerous addictions to drugs and alcohol.
2012 Sinister Sheriff directed and co-written by Scott Derrickson
2013 23 Blast Coach Powers
2014 Persecuted Fr. Charles Luther
2015 Unlimited Harold Finch
A Larger Life Robert Parker
90 Minutes in Heaven Jay B. Perkins
2016 God's Not Dead 2 Senior Pastor Fred Thompson's last film.

Television

Year Series Role Episode count
1988 Wiseguy Knox Pooley 3 Episodes
1989 China Beach Lt. Col. Reinhardt 1 Episode
Roseanne Keith Faber 1 Episode
Matlock Gordon Lewis 2 Episodes
1993 Matlock Prosecutor McGonigal 1 Episode
2000 Sex and the City Politician on TV 1 Episode
2002–2007 Law & Order D.A. Arthur Branch 116 Episodes
2003–2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit D.A. Arthur Branch 11 Episodes
2005–2006 Law & Order: Trial by Jury D.A. Arthur Branch 13 Episodes
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent D.A. Arthur Branch 1 Episode
2006 Conviction D.A. Arthur Branch 1 Episode
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

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fred Thompson, actor and presidential candidate, dies at age 73". Grasswire.com. 2015-11-01. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  2. 1 2 Humphrey, Tom (2007-09-07). "Fred, Freddie — he's still F.D. Thompson: New details emerge on personal life of newly announced candidate". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  3. ↑ Mathews, Joe. “An in-law-made man”, Los Angeles Times (2007-09-06): “Thompson stopped using the name Freddie in his professional dealings and became Fred.”
  4. ↑ American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Scholars & Fellows.
  5. ↑ Thompson, Fred. "Modern Political Archives: Fred Thompson Papers, 1993–2002". University of Tennessee. Archived from the original on 2006-09-08. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  6. ↑ U.S. Department of State
  7. 1 2 Bragg, Rick (November 12, 1994). "Grits and Glitter Campaign Helps Actor Who Played a Senator Become One". The New York Times. pp. Sec. 1, p. 10. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  8. 1 2 3 Associated Press and Cameron, Carl. "Fred Thompson Quits 'Law & Order,' Moves Closer to 2008 White House Bid", Fox News (2007-05-31).
  9. ↑ Fred Dalton Thompson Biography (1942-) via filmreference.com.
  10. ↑ Reitwiesner, William Addams. "Ancestry of Fred Thompson". self-published, non-authoritative. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  11. ↑ "Fred Thompson: A big and joyous life (Opinion) - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lawrimore, Erin. "Biography/History", University of Tennessee Special Collections Library (2005).
  13. 1 2 3 "About Fred", via imwithfred.com (Official Site). Retrieved (2007-07-13).
  14. ↑ Malcolm, Andrew (6 September 2007). "Shocking truth about Fred Thompson revealed!". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  15. ↑ Fred Thompson Hometown Biography, Lawrenceburg Tennessee
  16. ↑ Fred Thompson for President in 2008
  17. ↑ Vogel, Kenneth. "Rivals Take Aim At Thompson", CBS News (2007-06-12). Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Cottle, Michelle (1 December 1996). "Another Beltway Bubba?". Washington Monthly. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  19. 1 2 Dilanian, Ken. Past as lobbyist may play into future as candidate, USA Today (2007-06-06).
  20. 1 2 "Thompson cooperated with White House during Watergate". Associated Press. 8 March 2007.
  21. 1 2 3 Lowy, Joan (2007-07-07). "Fred Thompson Aided Nixon on Watergate". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  22. ↑ Cameron, Carl (8 March 2007). "National TV Star, Former Republican Senator Fred Thompson Mulls '08 Presidential Bid". FoxNews.
  23. ↑ Kranish, Michael (2007-07-04). "Select Chronology for Donald G. Sanders". The Boston Globe.
  24. ↑ Thompson, Fred D. (1975). At That Point in Time: The Inside Story of the Senate Watergate Committee. New York: Quadrangle/New York Times. ISBN 0-8129-0536-9.
  25. ↑ "Thompson's Watergate Role Not as Advertised" by Peter Obervy. National Public Radio. Published November 5, 2007
  26. ↑ Video on YouTube
  27. 1 2 Kranish, Michael (2007-07-04). "Not all would put a heroic sheen on Thompson's Watergate role". The Boston Globe. pp. Sec. 1, p. 10. Archived from the original on July 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-08. and "Fred Thompson Aided Nixon on Watergate". Forbes. 2007-07-04. pp. Sec. 1, p. 10. Archived from the original on July 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  28. 1 2 Fred Rolater, Leonard Ray Blanton, Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2002. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  29. 1 2 3 Locker, Richard. "Thompson tells why lobbyist pay rose with GOP-led Senate", Commercial Appeal (1994-11-05).
  30. ↑ Leibold, Arthur. "Some Hope for the Future After a Failed National Policy for Thrifts" in Barth, James et al. The Savings and Loan Crisis: Lessons from a Regulatory Failure, pages 58–59 (2004). Leibold cites Strunk and Case, Where Regulation Went Wrong: A Look at the Causes Behind Savings and Loan Failures in the 1980s, pages 14–16 (1988).
  31. ↑ Vogel, Kenneth. "'Law & Order' And Lobbying", The Politico (2007-04-02).
  32. ↑ Becker, Jo (July 19, 2007). "Thompson lobbied for family planning". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  33. ↑ The records show he spent much of that time in telephone conferences with the president of the group. He also spoke to administration officials on its behalf three times for a total of about three hours, but it is unclear who in the administration Thompson spoke with or when. When the work became controversial in 2007 in light of Thompson's pro-life stance and 2008 presidential campaign, a Thompson spokesperson said, "The [lobbying] firm consulted with Fred Thompson. It is not unusual for a lawyer to give counsel at the request of colleagues, even when they personally disagree with the issue." See Jo Becker, Records Show Ex-Senator’s Work for Family Planning Unit, The New York Times, (2007-07-19). Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  34. ↑ Birnbaum, Jeffrey. "Thompson Will Take On Outsider Role After Playing Access Man", Washington Post, June 12, 2007
  35. 1 2 David D. Kirkpatrick (2007-07-02). "As Senator Rose, Lobbying Became Family Affair". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  36. ↑ Mullins, Brody. "Thompson PAC Benefits Son More Than Republicans," Wall Street Journal (2007-04-21).
  37. 1 2 3 Hayes, Stephen F. (April 23, 2007). "From the Courthouse to the White House". Weekly Standard. Retrieved 2007-05-02.
  38. ↑ Keel, Beverly. "On screen, Thompson projects power, wisdom", The Tennessean (2007-05-08).
  39. ↑ "TNT won't pull reruns starring Thompson", Seattle Times (2007-09-01).
  40. 1 2 "Harry Woolf (Character)". IMDb.
  41. 1 2 Liz Shaw (August 29, 2009). "Brian Dennehy, Fred Thompson to star in film shooting at Crossroads Village". The Flint Journal.
  42. ↑ Powers, William. "The Politician's Pickup Lines", Washington Post (1994-10-21). There is some question about whether Thompson actually did the driving. According to Kevin Drum of the Washington Monthly, "Thompson didn't even deign to drive the thing himself." Drum, Kevin. "Fred Thompson's Red Pick-up Truck", Washington Monthly (2007-05-07). Retrieved 2007-06-18. Media reports in May and June 2007 said that Thompson still has the truck, which is "parked behind Thompson's mother's home outside Nashville." Chipman, Kim. "Thompson's Backers Check His `Fire in the Belly' for 2008 Race", Bloomberg (2007-06-28). According to Newsweek, "The paint is peeling and its U.S. Senate license plates expired back in 2002." Bailey, Holly. "The Sign of the Red Truck", Newsweek (2007-05-28). Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  43. ↑ Traub, James. "Party Like It's 1994", New York Times Magazine (2006-03-12): "The Republicans shocked political professionals, including President Bill Clinton, by gaining 52 seats in the House, giving them a majority there for the first time in 40 years. (They picked up eight seats in the Senate to wrest control there as well.)"
  44. ↑ Heilemann, John. "The Shadow Candidates". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
  45. ↑ "United States of America Presidential Elections of 1996, Electoral College Vote by States", Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive.
  46. ↑ Archived July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  47. 1 2 3 Fund, John (17 March 2007). "Lights, Camera ... Candidacy?". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  48. ↑ Thompson, Fred. "Additional Views of Chairman Fred Thompson, Investigation of Illegal or Improper Activities in Connection With 1996 Federal Election Campaigns, Final Report of the Committee on Governmental Affairs, Senate Report 105-167 – 105th Congress 2d Session" (1998-03-10).
  49. ↑ Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, History of Committee Chairmen. Retrieved (2007-07-13).
  50. ↑ Sen. Thompson's Official Senate Web Site (via Archive.org).
  51. ↑ Neal, Terry M. (18 August 1999). "McCain Re-Emerges; Receives Thompson Endorsement". Washington Post.
  52. ↑ "Bush: 'The days of speculation are over'", USA Today (2000-07-22).
  53. ↑ Zuckerbrod, Nancy."Thompson eyed for vice presidential role", via oakridger.com 2000-07-03). Retrieved 2007-07-10. Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  54. 1 2 Halperin, Mark (May 24, 2007). "A New Role for Fred Thompson". Time.
  55. ↑ "How conservative is Fred Thompson?", Washington Times Editorial (2007-06-23).
  56. ↑ Profile at Project Vote Smart (including bio, positions, finances, interest group ratings, votes, and statements).
  57. ↑ Theobald, Bill."In D.C., tenacious Thompson defied prediction: Reliable conservative had fierce independent streak", The Tennessean (2007-07-08).
  58. 1 2 Thompson, Fred. "Federalism 'n' Me", AEI (2007-04-23). Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  59. ↑ ""Thompson and the 'Laziness' Issue"" Newsweek (2007-09-29)
  60. ↑ ""G.O.P. Hopeful Took Own Path in the Senate"" The New York Times (2007-09-29)
  61. ↑ "Interview with Mike Boos of Citizens United". CNN. March 1, 2003.
  62. ↑ Goldsmith, Brian. "Beware The 'Convention Candidates'", CBS News (2007-04-20).
  63. ↑ Thompson, Fred. "The Pitch", via YouTube. Retrieved (2007-07-13).
  64. ↑ Lee, Christopher (September 9, 2005). "Hill Veterans Light the Way for Nominee". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  65. ↑ International Security Advisory Board, Former Members, State Department web site.
  66. ↑ International Security Advisory Board, State Department web site.
  67. ↑ Shane, Scott (February 9, 2007). "Media Censors for the Jury Let a Style Item Get Through". The New York Times.
  68. ↑ Bohn, Kevin (February 9, 2007). "Libby trial provides a rare look inside the grand jury". CNN.
  69. ↑ Loller, Travis. "Looking at Thompson's Lobbying Past", ABC News (2007-06-25).
  70. ↑ Copeland, Libby and Montgomery, David. "Scooter Libby's Pals, Trusting In Providence", Washington Post (2007-07-03).
  71. ↑ George W. Bush, "Statement by the President", The White House, July 2, 2007, accessed 2 July 2007.
  72. ↑ "Political Leaders Express Outrage, Support for 'Scooter' Libby's Commuted Sentence". Fox News. July 3, 2007.
  73. ↑ Miller, Korin. Names and Faces, The Washington Post (2006-02-25).
  74. ↑ The Fred Thompson Report, ABC Radio Networks.
  75. ↑ "Fred Thompson 2007". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  76. ↑ "Fred Thompson 2008". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  77. ↑ Justin Quinn. "Top Conservatives on Twitter -- TCOT -- Top Conservatives to Follow on Twitter". About.com News & Issues.
  78. ↑ "Fred Thompson to Speak in Richmond". WHSV TV. 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
  79. ↑ Horrigan, Marie (2007-07-31). "Fred Thompson’s Long ‘Exploration’ Raises Money — and Confusion". Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  80. ↑ "Thompson Tells Leno He Would Like to Be President". Fox News. 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  81. ↑ Nagourney, Adam. "Candidates Shift as G.O.P. Field Alters", NY Times (2007-07-19).
  82. ↑ Steve McGookin (2007-09-05). "Thompson Finally Steps Onstage". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Brief excerpts from the Tonight Show appearance are available from NBC. The full Tonight Show transcript is .
  83. ↑ Bill Schneider (2007-10-16). "Poll: As Thompson's star fades, Clinton's on the rise". CNN. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  84. ↑ Jill Zuckman (2007-10-10). "Thompson debuts as GOP candidates clash". Chicago Tribune.
  85. ↑ Robert D. Novak (2007-05-07). "Let down by Fred Thompson". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  86. ↑ Nation's Oldest Right to Life Organization Supporting Thompson Standard News Wire.com, 20 December. Retrieved: 9 September 2013.
  87. ↑ Fred Thompson Receives the Endorsement of Virginia Society for Human Life Presidency Project UCSB.EDU, 20 December 2007. Retrieved: 9 September 2013.
  88. ↑ "November 30, 2007 – Presidential Preferences". American Research Group. 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  89. ↑ "Daily Presidential Tracking Polling History". Rasmussen Reports. 2007-12-02. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  90. ↑ "CNN Political Ticker: Thompson drops out of GOP Presidential Race". CNN. 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  91. ↑ Van Gelder, Lawrence (2008-03-26). "Fred Thompson Seeks Make-Believe Roles". The New York Times.
  92. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (December 23, 2008). "Fred Thompson lands daily radio show". Reuters.
  93. ↑ "Westwood says goodbye to talker Fred Thompson, welcomes Doug Urbanski". Radio-Info.com. January 4, 2011.
  94. ↑ "AAG Announces Fred Thompson as Reverse Mortgage Spokesman". reversemortgagedaily.com.
  95. ↑ American Advisors Group (June 10, 2010). "American Advisors Group Announces Senator Fred Thompson as National Reverse Mortgage Spokesperson". prnewswire.com.
  96. ↑ Bond, Paul (7 March 2014). "Fred Thompson Religious Thriller 'Persecuted' Gets Release Date". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  97. ↑ "Transcript: Former Sen. Fred Thompson on 'FOX News Sunday'". Fox News. 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  98. ↑ "Exclusive! Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson on Possible White House Bid", Fox News Interview (2007-06-05).
  99. ↑ Bailey, Holly. "Away From the Cameras," Newsweek (2007-06-25).
  100. ↑ "Thompson: Roe bad law and bad medicine". CNN. August 17, 2007. Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
    "Nix That". The Corner. August 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
  101. ↑ Thompson, Fred. "Armed with the Truth", ABC Radio, May 10, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  102. ↑ Craig Fields. "Presidential Candidates And The Second Amendment". Gun Owners of America.
  103. ↑ Thompson, Fred. "Prepared Remarks for Speech to Lincoln Club Annual Dinner", ABC Radio, May 4, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  104. ↑ YouTube. youtube.com.
  105. ↑ "U.S. Senate: Roll Call Vote". senate.gov. January 27, 2015.
  106. ↑ "Thompson: U.S. must rebuild military". 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  107. ↑ "Former Sen. Fred Thompson on 'FOX News Sunday'". Fox News. 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  108. ↑ Sean Hannity interview of Fred Thompson, Fox News, June 6, 2007. Accessed June 9, 2007.
  109. ↑ Thompson, Fred. "Plutonic Warming", AEI, March 22, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2007.
  110. ↑ Mathews, Joe (2007-09-06). "Thompson wed his ambition". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved 2007-09-07.: "In the summer of 1959 ... Lindsey told Thompson she was pregnant. He responded, friends say, by asking her to marry him ... Freddie and Sarah exchanged vows in a Methodist church during the second week of his senior year. Seven months later, in April 1960, 17-year-old Thompson had a son."
  111. ↑ "Fred Thompson chronology". The Tennessean. May 6, 2007.
  112. ↑ Kirkpatrick, David (July 2, 2007). "As Senator Rose, Lobbying Became Family Affair". New York Times.
  113. ↑ Baxter, Sarah."Old Girlfriends Cast Their Vote for Thompson", Times Online (2007-06-24).
  114. ↑ Grove, Lloyd (July 2, 2002). "Reliable Sources". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  115. ↑ Marc Santora (2007-12-15). "A Little Thompson Humor". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  116. ↑ Brody, David (April 24, 2007). "Fred Thompson's Secret Weapon". CBNnews. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  117. ↑ Michelle Cottle (2007-10-22). "Jeri Rigged". The New Republic. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  118. ↑ Mackenzie Carpenter (2007-08-12). "Married to ambition: Not your father's potential first spouse". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  119. ↑ "Profile: Fred Thompson". BBC News. 2007-09-03.
  120. 1 2 Kim Chipman, "Thompson Says He's No Churchgoer, Won't Tout Religion on Stump", Bloomberg (2007-09-11).
  121. ↑ Brian Kaylor. "Reports Conflict About Fred Thompson's Church Membership, Attendance".
  122. 1 2 "Former Senator Fred Thompson in Remission for Lymphoma". Fox News. April 11, 2007.
  123. ↑ Bloom, Mark. "Fred Thompson, GOP Potential Candidate, Had Rare NHL," MedPage Today (2007-04-11).
  124. ↑ "Fred Thompson, with larger-than-life persona, dies at 73". Tennessean.com. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  125. ↑ "Fred Thompson remembered as a natural actor, politician". USA Today.com. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  126. ↑ "Fred Thompson: A Big and Joyous Life". CNN.com. Retrieved November 8, 2015.

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Preceded by
William Hawkins		 Republican nominee for United States Senator from Tennessee
(Class 2)
1994, 1996 		Succeeded by
Lamar Alexander
United States Senate
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Harlan Mathews		 U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Tennessee
1994–2003
Served alongside: Jim Sasser, Bill Frist		 Succeeded by
Lamar Alexander
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Ted Stevens		 Chairperson of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee
1997–2001 		Succeeded by
Joe Lieberman
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Joe Lieberman		 Chairperson of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee
2001
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