By Dan K. Thomasson
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

WASHINGTON - Thirty five years ago, Fred Thompson, then an obscure, young country lawyer from Tennessee, became a familiar face to millions of Americans engrossed in watching the historic drama of the Senate Watergate hearings unfold on TV. The exposure he received as the Republican counsel to the committee investigating the scandal propelled him to a lucrative law practice, a substantial movie career, then the U.S. Senate and finally a return to acting and private law practice.

When he first won election to a seat once held by his longtime mentor, Howard Baker, whose distinguished career ranged from the Senate to chief of staff of the White House to U.S. ambassador to Japan, he was considered by many as a potential presidential nominee. Possessing a rugged 6-foot-4 frame and a voice as rich and smoky as the Tennessee mountains surrounding his boyhood, he was, and is, an imposing figure.




But he seemed reluctant then to pursue the presidential prospect and he soon became bored and disillusioned with the Senate, a condition not unusual among bright people after a few frustrating years in the world’s champion debating club. He left that aspect of politics, but despite star billing as the chief district attorney in TV’s popular “Law and Order” series, he kept his political ties and interests and a wide circle of friends, most of whom regard him as the same “good old boy” he was when he first came to Washington.

The other day, however, Thompson cranked up the buzz about the 2008 Republican presidential nomination more than a notch by letting it be known that if the planets were properly aligned this summer, he “might” be interested in finally seeking the job his friends hoped he would years ago. That this tentative step could stir up such a sudden flash of interest pretty much certifies the lack of overall enthusiasm by GOP regulars for the current, announced crop of hopefuls.

Thompson’s appearance on the scene seemed to stimulate a sudden burst of interest, particularly among the conservatives who view him as acceptable and among the moderates who point out that he has never been reactionary. Also, Baker is leading the Thompson draft, if that is what it can be called at this stage. The former Senate Republican leader’s endorsement still carries weight.


Visit http://www.fred08.com