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Line 2: − + − In 2002, he joined the Council on Foreign Relations, a non-partisan think tank that promotes improved understanding of international affairs through public and private discussion. He is also a former member of the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission and a Visiting Fellow with the [[American Enterprise Institute]], researching national security and intelligence. Thompson also serves as a public speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau and is a special program host and senior analyst for ABC News Radio. He publishes a daily blog and podcast on the ABC Radio web site.+ − + − ==Early years==+ − Thompson was born in Sheffield, Alabama to Ruth Bradley and Fletcher Thompson. Soon after his birth, the family moved just across the state line to nearby Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. There, he attended public schools, including Lawrence County High. In 1959, at the age of 17, he married Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey. − − 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 worked to put himself through Vanderbilt University Law School and support his wife and three children. Thompson went on to earn his J.D. degree from Vanderbilt in 1967. He was admitted to the State Bar of Tennessee that same year and worked as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1969 to 1972. − − He was the campaign manager for Republican U.S. Senator [[Howard Baker]]'s successful re-election campaign in 1972, which led to a close personal friendship with Baker. He later served as co-chief counsel to the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities ("Watergate Committee") from 1973 to 1974. − − He was responsible for Baker 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, with him asking the key question, "Mr. Butterfield, are you aware of the installation of any listening devices in the Oval Office of the President?" For leading the line of inquiry that revealed the audio-taping system in the [[White House]] Oval Office, he gained national attention. Later, he documented his role in the hearings, writing the book, ''At That Point in Time: The Inside Story of the Senate Watergate Committee''. − − Thompson would return to Tennessee, where he maintained law offices in Nashville and Washington, D.C.. His practice varied from pro bono work to representing the state of Tennessee and large corporations, such as Westinghouse. − − In 1977 Thompson took on the case of Marie Ragghianti, a Tennessee Parole Board chairperson fired under suspicious circumstances. Thompson confirmed that her firing was due to her refusal to release from prison felons who had bribe aides of [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] governor Ray Blanton to buy their freedom. Thompson filed a suit challenging Ragghianti's dismissal. A jury found in July of 1978, that Governor Blanton had fired her "arbitrarily and capriciously" and ordered her reinstatement with an award of $38,000 for back pay. Ragghianti's case would garner national attention, along with the publication of a book titled, simply, ''Marie''. Thompson's work helped to expose this cash-for-clemency scheme ultimately toppled Blanton. − − Thompson went on to became special counsel to Tennessee Governor [[Lamar Alexander]] in 1980, special counsel, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations 1980-1981, Special counsel to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence 1982. He became a member of the Tennessee Appellate Court Nominating Commission 1985-1987. − − − − − − − − ==Actor== − The 1977 Ray Blanton-Tennessee Parole Board scandal later became the subject of a 1983 book, ''Marie'', by Peter Maas. Director Roger Donaldson bought the film rights and travelled to Nashville to speak with the people involved with the original case. After meeting with Thompson, Donaldson asked Thompson if he wanted to play himself in the movie; Thompson agreed. The resulting film, ''Marie'', was released in 1985. Donaldson then cast Thompson in the part of the CIA Director in his next movie, ''No Way Out'', in 1987. − − Thompson would go on to appear in many films and television shows, including ''The Hunt for Red October'', ''Days of Thunder'', ''Cape Fear'', ''Die Hard 2'', and ''In the Line of Fire''. He frequently portrayed governmental figures; in the 1993 film adaptation of ''Born Yesterday'', Thompson played the character of a United States senator prior to his election to the real-life United States Senate. He portrayed President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] in the HBO 2007 original movie ''[[Wounded Knee Massacre|Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee]]''. − − A 1994 ''[[New York Times]]'' profile described his character roles in the following terms: − − :''"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."'' − − 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 New York district attorney Arthur Branch. Thompson filmed his parts during Senate recesses. In the spring of 2005, Thompson concurrently played the role on the original series and the short-lived sister series ''Law & Order: Trial by Jury''. He has also made occasional appearances on ''Law & Order: Special Victims Uni'' and ''Law and Order: Criminal Intent'', and was in the pilot episode of ''Conviction''. − In his first campaign for public office, Thompson was elected by the people of Tennessee on November 8, 1994 to the remaining two years of [[Al Gore]]'s unexpired [[United States Senate|Senate]] term. He defeated six-term Democratic Representative Jim Cooper in a 61% to 39% landslide which represented the most votes anyone had ever received for a state-wide office in Tennessee history up to that point. Thompson easily won re-election for a full term in 1996 over Democrat Houston Gordon by an even larger margin than that by which he had defeated Cooper two years earlier. He also beat his record for receiving more votes than any previous candidate for any office in Tennessee history. Thompson had won two elections in two years by more than twenty points each.+ − − While in the Senate, Thompson was a member of the powerful Senate Committee on Finance, which has jurisdiction over taxes, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare reform, and international trade. From this position, he focused on reducing taxes, reforming the U.S. tax code to make it simpler and fairer, and restoring the Social Security and Medicare programs to long-term solvency. − − While a strong supporter of free trade, Thompson advocated a balanced approach to trade and [[national security]]. He pushed for an export control policy that protects America's national security without unnecessarily burdening American industry with bureaucratic red tape. He also proposed legislation to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by the People's Republic of China and other countries and to strengthen the United States' response to such activities. − − Thompson also served as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the National Security Working Group, which observes and monitors executive branch negotiations with foreign governments. − − In 1997 Thompson was elected Chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, making him among the most junior senators in history to serve as Chairman of a major Senate Committee. He served as Chairman until June of 2001. The Governmental Affairs Committee is charged with overseeing the management of the federal government. During his Chairmanship, Thompson's committee actively pursued an agenda aimed at producing a smaller, more efficient, and more accountable government. Of his efforts, the ''Kingsport Times-News'' wrote, "Sen. Thompson is to be applauded for keeping a watchful eye over Washington fiscal matters. There should be more like him." − − Thompson held hearings on topics such as improving the federal regulatory process; reforming the Internal Revenue Service; exploring ways to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse; and a number of national security issues, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile technologies. He also investigated and successfully enacted solutions to information management problems such as computer security. − − Additionally, the committee was chosen by the Senate leadership in 1997 to conduct an investigation into alleged improper or illegal activities associated with the 1996 federal election campaigns. The ''Wall Street Journal'''s Phil Kuntz observed, "Republican Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee and his Governmental Affairs Committee have offered the public a rare peek at the underside of American politics." + − Thompson was not a candidate for re-election in 2002. He had publicly stated his unwillingness to have the Senate become a long-term career. Although he announced in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks his intention to seek re-election ("Now is not the time for me to leave," said Thompson at the time), upon further reflection he decided against it. The decision seems to have been prompted in large part by the death of his daughter (Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson Panici) on January 30, 2002, from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.+ − − Thompson married Jeri Kehn on June 29, 2002, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Naperville, Illinois, having first met her on July 4, 1996. 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. She had formerly worked for the Senate Republican Conference and the Republican National Committee. − − 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 district attorney Arthur Branch. On May 30, 2007, he asked to be released from the show, potentially in preparation for a presidential bid. − − In October 2003, Fred and Jeri Thompson had their first child, Hayden Victoria Thompson. A second child was born to them in November, 2006. Thompson also has two grown children and five grandchildren from his previous marriage, which ended amicably in divorce after 25 years. Thompson has said that his former wife, Sara Lindsey, indicated she would campaign for Thompson if he did run for president. − − After the retirement of Supreme Court Associate Justice [[Sandra Day O'Connor]] in 2005, Thompson was appointed to an informal position by President George W. Bush to help guide the nomination of [[John Roberts]] through the United States Senate confirmation process. − − He is currently considering a run for [[President]] in 2008 and on June 1, 2007, he filed papers with the Tennessee Secretary of State creating "Friends of Fred Thompson," a state-based corporation that will raise and spend money to gauge interest and support for a possible presidential candidacy <ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/01/fred-thompson-takes-formal-step-towards-%e2%80%9908-bid/</ref>. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/30/AR2007053000583.html</ref> A March 23, 2007 Rasmussen Reports poll had him beating Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] with 44 percent to Clinton's 43 percent. <ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/thompson_tied_with_clinton_trails_obama</ref> Line 72:
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Removed a lot of wiki-plagiarism - see talk page
'''Fred Dalton Thompson''' (born August 19, 1942 in Sheffield, [[Alabama]]) is an [[United States of America|American]] lawyer, actor and former [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[U.S. Senate|senator]] from [[Tennessee]]. He is married to attorney Jeri Kehn, a political and media consultant, with whom he has two children.
'''Fred Dalton Thompson''' (born August 19, 1942 in Sheffield, [[Alabama]]) is an [[United States of America|American]] lawyer, actor and former [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[U.S. Senate|senator]] from [[Tennessee]]. He is married to attorney Jeri Kehn, a political and media consultant, with whom he has two children.
==Overview==
==Early Years==
He attended public school in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee and graduated from Memphis State University in 1964. He received a J. D. degree from Vanderbilt University in 1967 and was admitted to the Tennessee bar that same year.
Thompson 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.
Thompson was an assistant U.S. attorney from 1969 to 1972; minority counsel, then to the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities ("Watergate Committee") from 1973 to 1974. He became special counsel to Tennessee Governor [[Lamar Alexander]] in 1980, special counsel, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations 1980-1981, Special counsel to the Senate Intelligence Committee 1982. He became a member of the Tennessee Appellate Court Nominating Commission 1985-1987.
From 1975 to 1992 Thompson worked as a corporate lobbyist in Washington, D.C. He represented firms such as General Electric, Westinghouse and the Tennessee Savings and Loan League. In 1982, Thompson lobbyed the U.S. Congress for passage of the Savings and Loan deregulation legislation. Thompson contributed to the the Garn - St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982. In 1991, he worked with the Washington, D.C. firm of Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin, & Kahn, representing overseas business entities as a registered foreign agent.
From 1975 to 1992 Thompson worked as a corporate lobbyist in Washington, D.C. He represented firms such as General Electric, Westinghouse and the Tennessee Savings and Loan League.
In 1982, Thompson lobbyed the U.S. Congress for passage of the Savings and Loan deregulation legislation. Thompson contributed to the the Garn - St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982, which gave U.S. thrifts the freedom to invest in potentially more profitable, but riskier, ventures; eliminated interest-rate ceilings on new accounts; and allowed for additional government support of ailing S&Ls. This Act was a contributing factor to the Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s.
In 1991, he worked with the Washington, D.C. firm of Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin, & Kahn, representing overseas business entities as a registered foreign agent.
==U.S. Senate==
==U.S. Senate==
Thompson was elected as a Republican to the [[United States Senate]] in the November 8, 1994, special election to fill the unexpired portion of the term ending January 3, 1997, left vacant by the resignation of [[Al Gore|Albert Gore, Jr.]] and was re-elected in 1996 for the term ending January 3, 2003. Not a candidate for reelection in 2002 resumed acting career.
==Post Senate==
==Post Senate==
He is currently considering a run for [[President]] in 2008 and on June 1, 2007, he filed papers with the Tennessee Secretary of State creating "Friends of Fred Thompson," a state-based corporation that will raise and spend money to gauge interest and support for a possible presidential candidacy <ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/01/fred-thompson-takes-formal-step-towards-%e2%80%9908-bid/</ref>. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/30/AR2007053000583.html</ref> A March 23, 2007 Rasmussen Reports poll had him beating Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] with 44 percent to Clinton's 43 percent<ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/thompson_tied_with_clinton_trails_obama</ref>.
He is also an actor of note with more than 30 roles according to the International Movie Database including "The Hunt for Red October" and "Die Hard 2". He was a co-star of the popular television series ''Law and Order'' from 2002 to 2007.
Thompson announced April 11, 2007 that he's in remission from lymphoma (a type of cancer).
Thompson announced April 11, 2007 that he's in remission from lymphoma (a type of cancer).
"I have had no illness from it, or even any symptoms. My life expectancy should not be affected. I am in remission, and it is very treatable with drugs if treatment is needed in the future—and with no debilitating side effects,". <ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265271,00.html</ref>
"I have had no illness from it, or even any symptoms. My life expectancy should not be affected. I am in remission, and it is very treatable with drugs if treatment is needed in the future—and with no debilitating side effects,". <ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265271,00.html</ref>
{{cquote|"We must push back and push back hard"... "Remember how we won in the 1980. We stuck to our conservative principles." <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/5/25/73456.shtml?s=ic Fred Thompson: Stick to 'Conservative Principles'] </ref>}}
{{cquote|"We must push back and push back hard"... "Remember how we won in the 1980. We stuck to our conservative principles."}}<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/5/25/73456.shtml?s=ic Fred Thompson: Stick to 'Conservative Principles'] </ref>
== See also ==
== See also ==
== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.imwithfred.com/ I'm with Fred!] - Exploratory committee site
*[http://www.imwithfred.com/ I'm with Fred!] - Exploratory committee site
*[http://www.abcradio.com/Blog.asp?id=15663&m=5&y=2007 The Fred Thompson Report], Opinions and Commentary of Fred Thompson.
*[http://www.abcradio.com/Blog.asp?id=15663&m=5&y=2007 The Fred Thompson Report], Opinions and Commentary of Fred Thompson.
*[http://www.townhall.com/columnists/RobertDNovak/2007/05/31/why_fred_thompson Why Fred Thompson?], By Robert D. Novak, May 31, 2007.
*[http://www.townhall.com/columnists/RobertDNovak/2007/05/31/why_fred_thompson Why Fred Thompson?], By Robert D. Novak, May 31, 2007.
*[http://vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=22003 Fred Thompson Interest Group Ratings], Project Vote Smart. Retrieved June 4 2007.
*[http://vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=22003 Fred Thompson Interest Group Ratings], Project Vote Smart. Retrieved June 4 2007.
==References==
==References==