The list of TN disappointments is long: Gore, Sr., Gore, Jr., Brock, Baker, Kefauver, Ellington, Sasser; even Frist and Alexander were not that good. And Fred Thompson left early.
Fred was in way over his head as a senator. He would have made a great TN attorney general that was as far up in government as he ever needed to go. Politically he was a McCainite. His handling as committee chairman of the hearing on Clinton was very disappointing if not down right disgusting on his part. He went from "Let the chips fall where they may" to "Don't name no names". Added to that a "Not Guilty" vote for Bill Clinton. In short Fred's Senate career was pathetic.
I'll never understand the Fred for Prez craze in here. He couldn't handle himself nor have enough backbone needed as a senator why would anyone think he could be a good POTUS?
To his credit he helped rid Tennessee of an all time worse criminal governor. He likely indirectly prevented one as bad a Blanton from taking his place because of the attention given the office.