My favorite Fred Thompson story is a personal one.
In 1992 when I graduated from the University of Memphis law school, our class had to select a speaker for the graduation ceremony. Memphis law school students that year were predominantly Republican in contrast to the faculty.
It was generally agreed among the students to ask Tony Thompson’s father to be the speaker. Tony was in our class, and his father had been on Matlock and in the movies.
At the time, Fred Thompson had been hinted as a possible candidate for governor but his claim to notoriety, notwithstanding his earlier involvement in politics such as Watergate or the ousting of Ray Blanton in Tennessee (Marie), was in the entertainment field.
Word circulated that the Dean was a bit disappointed with our choice. By the way, Dean Fred Davis leaned, I am fairly certain, Republican. He didn’t see what our class saw. One, Thompson would probably attend his son’s graduation. Two, he was a person of notoriety and thus interesting. Three, there was some unknown factor that he would assume some role in some way in the future which would help shape the country.
Fred Thompson gave a good, down to earth speech and impressed everyone with his common sense and lack of an obnoxious ego that the insecure often exhibit.
Two years later, he was elected as United States Senator for Tennessee.
Fred Thompson would make a good President because his personality is grounded in common sense. The very fact that he doesn’t want to go out an pander and create media events is a plus factor for me.
great story!
A plus for me as well. I am so tired of being 'politicked' to, if that makes since. I apprecitate that Fred Thompson is comfortable saying what he believes.