Posted on 11/01/2015 5:06:05 PM PST by Kaslin
One of the most well-liked figures in national politics has passed away today. Fred Thompson, whose careers as an attorney, an actor, and a politician nearly gave him a path to the White House, died earlier today from lymphoma, according to his family. Thompson was 73 years old:
Mr. Thompson died after a recurrence of lymphoma, according to a statement issued by the Thompson family.
“It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that we share the passing of our brother, husband, father, and grandfather who died peacefully in Nashville surrounded by his family,” the statement reads.
“Fred once said that the experiences he had growing up in small-town Tennessee formed the prism through which he viewed the world and shaped the way he dealt with life. Fred stood on principle and common sense, and had a deep love for and connection with the people across Tennessee whom he had the privilege to serve in the United States Senate. He enjoyed a hearty laugh, a strong handshake, a good cigar, and a healthy dose of humility. Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of Lawrenceburg, his home.
“Fred believed that the greatness of our nation was defined by the hard work, faith, and honesty of its people. He had an enduring belief in the exceptionalism of our country, and that America could provide the opportunity for any boy or girl, in any corner of our country, to succeed in life. “
Thompson led a storied public life, beginning in one of the most dramatic moments in American politics over the last half-century. Thompson’s questioning of Alexander Butterfield in the Watergate scandal exposed the taping system employed by Richard Nixon, and eventually led to Nixon’s resignation. Thompson continued to make waves as an attorney, representing a whistleblower in a corruption case in Tennessee. That led to an opportunity to play himself in the film Marie, starring Sissy Spacek, and leading to a long career in Hollywood. Iconic roles in The Hunt for Red October, Die Hard II, and later “Law and Order” gave Thompson a familiar, avuncular quality.
In 1994, Thompson parlayed that familiarity to a seat in the US Senate, taking Al Gore’s seat in a special election. He won again in 1996 for a full term, but retired from the Senate in 2002 to return to his acting career. In 2007, though, with the Republican presidential field wide open, Thompson decided to run for the nomination, only to find that he’d gotten in too late to have an impact.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Thompson on a few occasions. He had the same folksy manner off air as he did on the air, perhaps more so when he left politics for good after 2007. One of those occasions came at CPAC in 2014, when Thompson was promoting his project Persecuted. Quite frankly, even though I had spoken to Thompson on the air a few times, it was a little daunting to interview him in person with a bit of a crowd around, but Thompson was as gracious and friendly as ever. Here’s the interview, and you’ll see how much I enjoyed getting to chat with him:
Rest in peace, Senator. You certainly earned it. Our prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues.
GOOD to see you, beautiful, petitfour.
Like you, I’m so sad about dearest Fred Thompson.
It’s like “we knew him.”
God hold him dear.
Someone e-mail Jim Dobson, he'll know...
Sorry to hear this. I really liked the guy.
I assume his commercials will now be pulled. Advertisers tend to do that as they did with the ubiquitous Billy May commercials.
Amen to that.
RIP
I always loved Fred Thompson. I think he would have made a wonderful President. Like others have said, it’s too bad he took so long to get into the race in 2007.
Prayers to his family and close friends.
WOW! Condolences to Fred Thompson’s family and friends.
R.I.P., sir.
I supported Hunter too.
Let’s face it-be never would have gotten any traction.
(And yes, it gave me major butt hurt to hear that from so many freepers but it’s true. I still have his pic on my profile page.)
RIP Fred.
My Fred Thompson ancedote; shared a senate subway car with him, Hal Heflan, my kids and father. Intoductions were made and Heflan asked my 10 year-old son about the chain hanging from his belt loop.
‘It’s for my wallet’ which he pulled out to show the senator.
Heflan replied, ‘how much money you got in that wallet, son’?
As my son started to show him, Sen. Thompson reached out and stopped him saying, ‘son let this be a lesson for you. ~Never~ open your wallet in front of a democrat’.
Mr. Thompson’s passing takes one’s breath away. Never knew he was ill. RIP Mr. Thompson. Condolences to his family and friends. Not only as a politician, he was also highly regarded as an actor. RIP, Sir. We’ve lost so many good men/women this past year. God bless us, everyone.
You said it well dear onyx.
Holy crap, I didn’t know he was sick.
:( RIP.
Would have died in office if the was in his 2nd term as President.
RIP, Fred.
PING!
Presumably he would have chosen someone wise and strong to be his vice-president, rather than the wicked LBJ, so his death in office would not be a disaster.
I didn’t know he was sick. RIP Fred.
At least we wouldn't have had to worry about your stealing the silverware on your way out.
[Art.] In 2007, though, with the Republican presidential field wide open, Thompson decided to run for the nomination, only to find that he'd gotten in too late to have an impact.
Fred was an intended victim of the RiNOs' 2008 strategy, which could be called "stomp all the water out of the shallow end of the pool". They did it again in 2012, with nobody the wiser except Sarah Palin.
Fred was contractually obligated to NBC through the end of the 2007 season of Law and Order, which included summer reruns. Viz., if Fred had announced in July, his lawyers no doubt explained to him (as if they had to), NBC would and could have held him liable for lost ad revenue from the moment they had to stop showing reruns because he'd announced for high public office.
So he stayed out until September, played by the rules, no cat-and-mouse "non-campaign campaigning", and by the time he went to join in the fun leading up to some South Carolina beauty pageant (non-binding referendum or poll or whatever), he was so flat-broke and bereft of backing that he had to take a taxi to the venue. This story was told by a press guy who was no Fred fan, and in fact had been working for another candidate, but had seen Fred speak to the gathering from the official podium. The man said to a candid group in the bar, that when Fred started to speak, just by his delivery and manner of speaking, "he was the President of the United States".
Fred was the real deal, and the fact that he never sat in the Oval Office should be numbered among the dark victories of Karl Rove and his masters.
Ha! Awesome little tale.
I’m more familiar with him via his role on L&O. He brought a welcome & much-needed note of conservatism to that show.
A dignified guy who, unlike most “entertainers”, would never have turned the office of President into the tragi-comic opera it is today.
RIP, Senator.
Met him at a CPAC event. A gracious and charming guy RIP
One of my favorites. Thank you for your service, Senator.
My sympathy to the family.
Yes. Fred ‘got it’, but seemed too tired by that time to follow through.
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