Fred Dalton Thompson

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Fred Dalton Thompson
United States Senator from Tennessee
In office December 2, 1994–January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Harlan Matthews
Succeeded by	Lamar Alexander
Born	August 19, 1942 (age 64) Sheffield, Alabama
Political party	Republican
Spouse	(1) Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey (Knestrick), 1959-1985; div. (2) Jeri Kehn, 2002-
Profession	lawyer, lobbyist, registered foreign agent, character actor, public speaker

Fred Dalton Thompson (born August 19, 1942) is an American lawyer, lobbyist, character actor and former Republican Senator from Tennessee (now a resident of McLean, Virginia)^[1], who has announced that he is considering a bid in the 2008 Presidential Election.^[2]

In addition to acting, Thompson is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. China Economic & Security Review Commission and a Visiting Fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, researching national security and intelligence (Communist China, North Korea, and Russia.) Thompson is also signed as a public speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau.^[3]

Thompson is also a special program host and senior analyst for ABC News Radio and fills in for Paul Harvey.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Attorney 3 Washington D.C. Lobbyist 4 Character Actor 5 Candidate and United States Senator 6 U.S. Senator Thompson and Lorrie Morgan (1994-1996) 7 After the Senate 8 2008 Presidential Bid? 9 Electoral history 10 Footnotes 11 External links

[edit] Early life

Thompson was born in Sheffield, Alabama to Ruth Bradley and Fletcher Thompson, a used-car dealer.^[4] He grew up attending the public schools in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. In 1959, Thompson first married Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey when he was 17 and the couple lived for the next year in public housing.^[5] Thompson first attended Florence State College and then Memphis State University where he earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy and political science in 1964. At this time, Fred and Sarah Thompson "...both worked to put Thompson through Vanderbilt and support three kids"^[6] and Thompson later received his J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1967.

[edit] Attorney

Thompson was admitted to the Tennessee Bar Association in 1967 and commenced the practice of law, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1969–1972. He was the campaign manager for moderate Republican and U.S. Senator Howard Baker's successful re-election campaign in 1972, which led to a close personal friendship with Baker, and he served as co-chief counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee in its investigation of the Watergate scandal, (1973–1974). He was responsible for Baker's asking one of the questions that is said to have led directly to the downfall of President Richard Nixon—"What did the President know, and when did he know it?" Also, Thompson's voice has become immortalized in recordings of the Watergate proceedings, asking the key question, "Mr. Butterfield, are you aware of the installation of any listening devices in the Oval Office of the President?"^[7]

In 1977, Thompson took on a Tennessee Parole Board case that ultimately toppled Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton from power on charges of selling pardons.

[edit] Washington D.C. Lobbyist

In 1975, Thompson began his eighteen year engagement as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., eventually representing clients including Westinghouse, General Electric (the current corporate owner of the NBC Universal-NBC television network), and the Tennessee Savings and Loan League.^[6]

By 1982, Thompson worked the U.S. Congress membership as a lobbyist for passage of the Savings and Loan deregulation legislation desired by the Tennessee Savings and Loan League --- in this case, federal deregulation legislation allowing for additional government support of ailing S&Ls; giving U.S. thrifts the freedom to invest in potentially more profitable, but riskier, ventures; and eliminating interest-rate ceilings on new accounts to increase S&Ls' competitiveness. Enacted into law during in September 1982, the Senate bill pushed by Thompson was incorporated into the Garn - St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982. The Garn - St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 is widely credited with having laid the groundwork for the U.S. Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s.^[6]

In 1991, Thompson began working with the Washington, D.C. firm Arent Fox Kitner Plotkin & Kahn as a registered foreign agent representing overseas business entities.^[6]

[edit] Character Actor

The 1977 Ray Blanton-Tennessee Parole Board scandal later became the subject of a book and a movie titled Marie (1985) in which Thompson played himself, supposedly because the producers were unable to find a professional actor who could play him plausibly. While his film role in Marie launched his acting career, Thompson was divorced from his first wife of twenty-five years, Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey, during this same year.

Thompson would go on to appear as racist demagogue "Dr. Knox Pooley" in a story arc of the TV series Wiseguy (1988), and has also been in subsequent feature films, including No Way Out (1987), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Cape Fear (1991), and In the Line of Fire.(1993). A 1994 New York Times profile described his authoritarian character roles as such:

"The glowering, hulking Mr. Thompson has played a White House chief of staff, a director of the Central Intelligence Agency, a highly placed F.B.I. agent, a rear admiral, even a senator. When Hollywood directors need someone who can personify governmental power, they often turn to him."^[8]

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 the character Arthur Branch.

In the spring of 2005 Thompson concurrently played the role on both the original series and short-lived sister series Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Thompson has also made occasional appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and appeared in the pilot episode of Conviction. He is one of very few actors who plays the same regular character on two different series simultaneously.

Filmography

• Marie (1985)
• No Way Out (1987)
• Feds (1988)
• Fat Man and Little Boy (1989)
• The Hunt for Red October (1990)
• Days of Thunder (1990)
• Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)
• Flight of the Intruder (1991) (uncredited)
• Class Action (1991)
• Necessary Roughness (1991)
• Curly Sue (1991)
• Cape Fear (1991)
• Aces: Iron Eagle III (1992)
• Thunderheart (1992)
• White Sands (1992) (uncredited)
• Born Yesterday (1993)
• In the Line of Fire (1993)
• Barbarians at the Gate (1993)
• Baby's Day Out (1994)
• Celsius 41.11 (2004)
• Racing Stripes (2005, voice)
• Last Best Chance (2005)
• Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)

[edit] Candidate and United States Senator

In 1994, Thompson and his staffers effectively sold Tennesseans on the carefully crafted "Ol' Fred" persona (frequently used by the seantor to describe himself)^[9] and later retreaded the "Ol' Fred" persona with a new twist: the 1995 Thompson senatorial campaign would involve Thompson and his staff drivers crossing the Volunteer State in his red pickup truck (a motor vehicle later revealed to be first leased by Thompson for the 1994 campaign tour)^[10] to all of his Tennessee campaign stops, however Michele Cottle of the 'Washington Monthly revealed an eyewitness account of Thompson being driven away from a political rally in Knoxville, Tennessee by a campaign staffer, and each to be sighted minutes later with the campaign staffer left behind with the Thompson campaign truck, and Senator Thompson driving away "... behind the wheel of a sweet silver luxury sedan."^[6]

Thompson was easily re-elected in 1996 (for the term ending January 3, 2003) over Democratic attorney Houston Gordon of Covington, Tennessee by an even larger margin than that by which he had defeated Cooper two years earlier. During the 2000 U.S. Presidential election primary campaign Thompson served as the national campaign chairman for his friend, U.S. Senator John McCain.

During 1997, Thompson was "...largely stymied" during his 1997 U.S. Senate investigations of both Clinton-Gore and GOP campaign fund-raising activites, more particularly with witnesses for the Thompson investigations either declining to testify or simply leaving the United States jurisdiction.^[11]

In the 2000 Republican presidential primaries, Thompson initially backed former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander. When Alexander dropped out of the race, Thompson endorsed Senator John McCain's bid and became his national co-chairman.^[12]

While in the Senate, he was chair of the Committee on Governmental Affairs from 1997 to January 3, 2001 which conducted investigations into allegations Communist China attempted to influence American politics prior to the 1996 elections (See: campaign finance scandal) and January 20, 2001 to June 6, 2001, when the reorganization of the Senate prompted by the resignation of James Jeffords of Vermont from the Republican Party changed the control of the Senate. Thompson then became the ranking minority member.

U.S. Senate Votes

OnTheIssues.org -Important Votes by Thompson^[13]

• "yes" on allowing more H-2A visas for foreign agricultural workers

• "yes" on H1-B and H1-Cvisas for skilled foreign workers

• "yes" on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade agreements authority

• "yes" on permanent normal trade relations with Communist China

• "yes" on expanding trade to the third world

• "yes" on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam

• "yes" on extending free trade to Andean nations

• "no" on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates

• "yes" on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts

• "yes" on defunding renewable and solar energy

• "no" on ending discussion of Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards

• "yes" on terminating Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards within 15 months

[edit] U.S. Senator Thompson and Lorrie Morgan (1994-1996)

As a U.S. Senator, Thompson gained considerably more media attention for his active D.C. social night life with much younger girlfriends, and the Tennessee senator had been linked to a variety of women, including pundit-pollster Kellyanne Fitzpatrick, Time magazine writer Margaret Carlson, Nathans restaurant owner Carol Joynt and Washington PR executive Sydney Ferguson. Thompson also had a two year relationship (1994-1996) with county music recording artist Lorrie Morgan of Hendersonville, Tennessee. In her book Forever Yours, Faithfully: My Love Story, Morgan states that:

[...]

It was great to go out with an older man [Fred Thompson] who was very successful on his own. I felt very secure with him, and he became a wonderful friend, a caring, inspirational man who would encourage me not to doubt myself (which, maybe you can tell by now, is one of my best things).

Fred is an extremely generous man. He wined and dined me and bought me presents --- furs, earrings, Chanel shoes with real high heels.

For a while, I enjoyed my first exposure to politics. It was interesting to hear about political conversations, and people even began talking about Fred as a potential president. It was inevitable that I would be sitting at a glamorous party and would have the flickering thought, So, this is what it's like to be a First Lady. Hell, I could handle that. Then I would say, "Oops, better drop the 'hell'"

[...]

I put myself to the task of being a great companion to a stimulating and important man, and as a result I become boring. I lost my spunk, my spontaneity, I had to stop and think about the political implications of everything before I uttered a word in public. Was this a Democratic issue? Was this a Republican issue? I could not trust my best asset, my gut instincts. In other words, I could not be myself.

Fred let me know that it was important how I dressed. Sedate was in. Even if I felt like a little flair that night, forget it --- we might be with men who had big wallets and insecure wives, wives who were a little older than I was. So get that basic black dress out of the closet. And no cleavage, baby.

Fred's senator buddies loved me, and some of my friends said that they never seen me happier. For a while, I wanted to marry Fred, but I knew he could not accept me as I am.

[...]

Forever Yours, Faithfully: My Love Story. pp. 262-263. Lorrie Morgan with George Vecsey. 1997. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-41297-4

[edit] After the Senate

Thompson was not a candidate for re-election in 2002. He had never planned to make a lifetime career of the Senate, and had often publicly stated as much. Although he announced in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks his intention to seek re-election, upon further reflection, which seems to have been prompted in large part by the sudden death of his daughter (Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson Panici) on January 30, 2002 from accidental drug overdose^[11][14], he decided not to pursue this course.

Thompson married Jeri Kehn in Naperville, Illinois at the First Congregational United Church of Christ on June 29, 2002. Kehn (born January, 1967) is an attorney and a political media consultant at the Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, and McPherson law firm in Washington, D.C., and she once worked for the Senate Republican Conference and the Republican National Committee. According to a July 1, 2002 Washington Post article "Senator Thompson marries", Thompson first met the then 29 year old Jeri Kehn on the Fourth of July, 1996.

In October 2003, Fred and Jeri Thompson had their first child, Hayden Victoria Thompson, and another child was born during November 2006 .^[11] Fred Thompson also has three grown children from a previous marriage, one of whom is deceased, and five grandchildren

Thompson did voice-over work at the 2004 Republican National Convention.

After the retirement of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 2005, he was appointed to an informal position by President George W. Bush to help guide the nomination of John Roberts through United States Senate confirmation. He also is the chair of the International Security Advisory Board, a bipartisan advisory panel that reports to the Secretary of State and focuses on emerging strategic threats.

In 2006, Thompson signed on with ABC News Radio to serve as senior analyst and vacation replacement for Paul Harvey.^[15]

Self-described friend of I. Lewis ("Scooter") Libby, Jr, Thomson lent moral and financial support to Libby while on trial for his role in the Plame affair,^[16] serving on the advisory board of Libby's defense fund that had taken in 3.5 million USD as of February 9, 2007.^[17]

[edit] 2008 Presidential Bid?

There recently has been a fringe draft movement started by a former Thompson political aide in Knoxville, Tennessee to encourage Thompson to run an election campaign for U.S. President in 2008. While Thompson has not yet formally announced his intentions, he has said he will "leave the door open".^[18]

A March 2007 Rasmussen Reports poll had him ahead U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton with 44 percent to Clinton's 43 percent (a statistical tie, given margin of error)^[19].

On March 27, 2007, a USA Today/Gallup ^[20] poll of both Republicans and Republican-leaning Independent placed Thompson in third place (12%) and behind both Rudy Giuliani (31%) and John McCain (22%) among fourteen Republican candidates. According to Gallup, "Giuliani's shrinking lead in the latest poll has to do with both the inclusion of Fred Thompson in the trial heat as well as a more general drop in support."

On March 28, 2007, NewsMax reported "Focus on the Family founder James Dobson questioned Fred Thompson’s presidential aspirations, saying the former senator is not a Christian." Dobson – now the most politically powerful figure in the U.S. Christian right movement – said in a phone call to Dan Gilgoff, senior editor at U.S. News & World Report. "[But] I don’t think he’s a Christian. At least that’s my impression.”^[21]

An April 3, 2007 Gallup Poll ^[22] reveals "...the fact that two-thirds of Americans say that nothing at all comes to mind when they think about "Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson."

Thompson has never said he would like to see Roe v Wade overturned; he only said, "I think Roe vs. Wade was bad law and bad medical science. And the way to address that is through good judges. I don't think the court ought to wake up one day and make new social policy for the country. It's contrary to what it's been the past 200 years." ^[23] However, Thompson's comment still allows him to continue his opposition to penalizing abortion doctors and others for abortion in the first trimester, and as reported in a 2000 article by National Review, Thompson sent correspondence "...to a constituent in 1997, which notes that Thompson supports various restrictions on abortion but also includes the line, "I believe that government should not interfere with individual convictions and actions in this area."^[24]

While Thompson has made no formal announcements confirming a 2008 U.S. Presidential bid, several events have caused speculation that Thompson will not run, such as failing to form an exploratory committee, and meeting with a top Romney supporter, causing rumors that the Romney campaign may be courting a Thompson endorsement, possibly in exchange for a position in a Romney administration. Thompson also failed to join the race before a critical Q1 fundraising deadline.

[edit] Electoral history

• 1996 Race for U.S. Senate
  • Fred Thompson (R) (inc.), 61%
  • Houston Gordon (D), 37%

• 1994 Race for U.S. Senate (Special Election)
  • Fred Thompson (R), 60%
  • Jim Cooper (D), 39%

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Fred Dalton Thompson at the Internet Movie Database
• United States Senator Fred Dalton Thompson Congressional Website (From Internet Archive retrieved 03 January 2007)
• New York Times "Topics: Fred Thompson" collection of news stories and commentary
• On the Issues - Fred Thompson issue positions and quotes
• Center for Responsive Politics (aka OpenSecrets.org) campaign contributions
  • 2002 (Senator) 2000 (Senator) (Senator) 1996 (Senator) 1994 (Member of Congress)
• Washington Post "Congress Votes Database: Fred Thompson" (voting record)
• Tennessean.com archives - Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson Panici
• "Lights, Camera . . . Candidacy?". OpinionJounral.com, March 17, 2007. John Fund.
• THE ABDUSSAMATOVIAN CANDIDATE!
• Sun-Times "Thompson's White House Talk is No Act". Robert Novak.
• " Despite Strength in Poll, Fred Thompson's Image Ill-defined: Many Republicans have no image at all of Thompson." Gallup Poll, April 3, 2007.

Preceded by Harlan Mathews	United States Senator (Class 2) from Tennessee 1994–2003 Served alongside: Jim Sasser, Bill Frist	Succeeded by Lamar Alexander
Preceded by Ted Stevens	Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs 1997–2001, 2001	Succeeded by Joe Lieberman (both times)

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