Some interesting tidbits about Freddie Thompson in the Newsweek article!

[napi21]

Thompson's interest in sports waned when he fell for Sarah Lindsey, a local beauty queen and daughter of a prominent family. She was a year ahead of him in school; he cut practice to spend time with her. A few months after she graduated, Sarah got pregnant. Thompson was 16. He proposed, but her parents wouldn't hear of it. Sarah was on her way to Vanderbilt to study English; they weren't about to let her tie herself down to a goof-off who they didn't believe had much of a future. Still, Sarah insisted that there was something special about Freddie, and she urged them to trust her. In September 1959, two weeks after Thompson's 17th birthday, they were married. They named their son, born the next spring, Fred Jr. A senior in high school, Thompson was a husband and father.

snip: Here's a glimpse of the way he'll campaign, and sadly, I think he could win with it!

The old line in Washington is that freshman senators are supposed to be seen and not heard, but Thompson was no ordinary newcomer. His movie stardom gave him unusual influence. In December 1994, Bill Clinton delivered a major economic address on live television. Bob Dole, the Republican leader and a fan of Thompson's movies, picked him to deliver the GOP's response. Thompson took it for what it was: an acting job. Perched on the edge of his desk, he delivered bromides about tax cuts and small government in a folksy, down-home tone that won him immediate comparisons with Reagan. Tom Shales, The Washington Post's tough TV critic, called him a "first-class communicator." Clinton enjoyed Thompson's sermon so much he sent him a cigar and a letter of praise. "I had to fight with my staff as to whether I should smoke the cigar or keep it as a memento from the President," Thompson wrote Clinton. "We compromised. I am going to keep the tube it came in." (The letter, along with thousands of other documents from Thompson's time in the Senate, is archived at the University of Tennessee.)


snip: Now I know who's really behind the Thompson candidacy!

Back home in Tennessee, Howard Baker once again had bigger things in mind for his protégé. Late last year Baker and his Republican friends were casting around for a presidential candidate to back in 2008. None of the contenders impressed them. Sitting at his desk in his law office in Huntsville, Tenn., Baker called Thompson and told him he was going to float his name in GOP circles. Thompson didn't try to stop him.

snip: Interesting conclusion.

But in recent weeks Thompson himself has stepped in to bring order to the campaign. Jeri appears to have given over some control to a new campaign manager—Bill Lacy, a veteran GOP strategist who directed Thompson's Senate runs. "I think things are more settled," says Ingram. Thompson still has some kinks to work out. For all his oratorical skills, he has yet to get the hang of giving a rousing stump speech. In Indianapolis two weeks ago, he delivered a somber assessment of America's future that left his audience deflated. Thompson, who has already been president three times in the movies, is about to find out how much harder it is to play commander in chief when you don't have a script.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20546334/site/newsweek/

I believe this is the entire Newsweek article from the Sept. 10th issue. It's quite an interesting article on old Freddie!

[TwilightGardener]

1. He's doomed. Physically, both in looks and stamina, he cannot be President.

He's not Reagan--they're finding that out now. He's extremely overrated, and already started off as a mild disappointment, rather than the Second Coming people hoped for. Fox News doesn't even support him. I'm glad he's in--he will keep Rudy and Romney from having an easier time getting the nom.

[napi21]

2. I agree with you EXCEPT for the Baker backing. Baker is still

a very powerful guy in the Party! If he gets all the movers and shakers in line, I think he can make Freddie their guy!

[salin]

3. James Baker yes, but Howard Baker much less so...

I also believe there is still some skepticism ala bushsr associations with Howard among the hard-right. Now if he were trying to coalesce moderate repubs - I would agree with you ... but all indications are that Fred is playing to the hard right, not to the moderate repubs. Those folks (and indies in the general) are up for grabs.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Baker has been 100% percent responsible for Fred Thompson's entire

career. He built the monster, so it's not surprising that he promotes him now--I'm sure ol' Howard would like to get back into power in some way--Freddie's his vehicle. Time for Fred to reward him with a cabinet post or something, is Howie's thinking.

[Olney Blue]

4. So he fathered a baby out of "wedlock" when he was 16 yrs old?

[Poiuyt]

6. So Fred got a girl pregnant when he was 16?

The article doesn't make it clear, if she was a year ahead of him, was she under the age of 18 when they had sex? What is the age of consent in TN? Is Fred guilty of statutory rape?

[TwilightGardener]

7. I guess his parents taught him good Republican values.

[napi21]

9. Yea, this is the kind of BS that will squash his chances with the

far RW. I'm glad a lot of this was in the article. Although not millions read NW, those that do will (I hope) spread the word. After all, everybody loves some good dirt.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. K&R

[Olney Blue]

10. K/R