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.
BTTT
I don’t think his heart was really in it, as he was pressured to to join the campaign. That is why I swore to myself that Iwill never vote for any candidate that is pressured. Dr Ben Carson is another. I like Dr Ben Carson, but think he would be perfect as Secretary of Health and Human services.
John Glenn used every trick he could to derail the investigation.
Next thing you know, John Glenn gets to go up in the space shuttle.
John Glenn used every trick he could to derail the investigation.
I have no idea where you got your information from and what John Glenn has to do with this?John Glenn was selected for the space program in 1959, orbited the earth on February 20, 1962.
On that fateful day, Glenn piloted the Friendship 7 spacecraft, which was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. He orbited Earth three times during his mission, which lasted nearly five hours. But this historic journey was not without some glitches. In the control room, NASA officials grew worried that Glenn's heat shield was not firmly attached to the spacecraft. Glenn made some adjustments, and managed to make a safe landing.
Became senator in 1974
Select Committee on Presidential Campaign
Activities (The Watergate Committee)
Resolution passed: February 7, 1973.
Report issued: June 27, 1974
Chairman: Sam J. Ervin, Jr. (D-NC
Vice Chairman: Howard H. Baker (R-TN)
Was one of the Keating Five accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The 5 US Senators were
Alan Cranston (Democrat of California), Dennis DeConcini (Democrat of Arizona), John Glenn (Democrat of Ohio), John McCain (Republican of Arizona), and Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (Democrat of Michigan) – were accused of improperly intervening in 1987 on behalf of Charles H. Keating, Jr., Chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which was the target of a regulatory investigation by by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB). The FHLBB subsequently backed off taking action against Lincoln.
I suggest you change your Freeper name as you are definitely Not in the know
And I suggest you check further into John Glenn’s activities on Fred Thompson’s committee. And subsequent space shuttle flight/reward.
“Fred was my choice in the 2007 primaries. RIP”
Same here, skeeter. Prayers go out for his family.
Me too - he was an all around good person from what I understand.
You know that you have lived a good life when your friends number in the thousands, and your enemies always keep quiet.
You’re so right and your statement is full of wisdom.
I’m going to try my level best to remember it.
I still can’t get over the fact that he was still so relatively young. I’m so sorry that he passed. I had wished him a long, happy and healthy life. I had no idea at all that he suffered from lymphoma.
“Fred ‘got it’, but seemed too tired by that time to follow through.”
Yeah that was my conclusion as well. We went to a couple of his rallies in Iowa in ‘07. He just seemed tired. No fire left. Great guy though. The world is poorer for his loss.
“. I had wished him a long, happy and healthy life.”
It may not have been the longest life, but I’ll wager it was a happy one.
I agree.
Praise God!
Someone e-mail Jim Dobson, he'll know...
****
Great shot, Charles!!!
From one of the best FRed threads ever...
The Death of Conservatism? - 43 Mistakes and the GOP's Dobson's Choice
RIP Fred
Eternal rest Fred.Prayers for his Loved Ones.
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