Actor and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson died today after a recurrence of lymphoma. He was 73. He was home with family in the Nashville area, and went peacefully.
I liked Fred Thompson for president in 2008. We lined up on a lot of practical issues, and differed on some others. But what really appealed to me about him was his humility. He wasn’t interested in being president for its own sake. He sought the office because he believed he could do it, and well. I believe he saw it as a calling, and one he answered with considerable gravity.
We are now deeply—perhaps irretrievably—into the era of the celebrity president, and I doubt a guy like Thompson will ever have even a slim chance going forward. He may have made a living as an actor, but he was an unassuming and dignified man. Alas, the 2010s are an era of Kardashians, not Coolidges; of Tiggers, not Eeyores (or even Poohs).
God be with his friends and family; especially his wife and children. RIP.
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Bo. I hade similar thoughts about Fred. He reminded me, in 2008, of Dr. Carson now. Perhaps, the soft spoken may eventfully lose out .. As with Fred — “The Good Always Die Young” (I’m 73 and perhaps there is not all “good’ with in me !).
With this Republican primary season, we’re wandering around in a truly bizarre wonderland we’ve never seen, Dr. Fred. It’s way beyond up is down; it’s more like up is pineapple.
I’m not going to try to predict it for a while. I’ll just watch.
I’ve been a news vacuum today. Seeing your blog is the first I’ve heard of this. Sad news. I always liked the way he presented himself and his delivery. I liked him on Law and Order. His candidacy fizzled out too early. He would of been an interesting, upstanding, President who would of worked to make America proud.
I think so too, Kara. I’d love a president who wasn’t so damned impressed with being president. George W. Bush was worlds better than Obama, but I’d love to see it toned back from even there.
The office is important. It need not be haughty.