Fred Thompson was a self-made man, born of modest means, who excelled in his career as a lawyer, a character actor and a reluctant politician. He died this weekend at age 73. He was a Patriot and a man of integrity, who gained the early respect of his peers both as minority counsel during the Senate Watergate investigation and his relentless pursuit of a corrupt Democratic Tennessee Governor, Ray Blanton. I first met Fred in 1993 when he was campaigning for the Senate seat vacated by Albert Gore after Bill Clinton’s election. I had the opportunity to write some white papers for Fred’s campaign on Second Amendment rights and other conservative topics. A statement from his family noted, “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. … Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of Lawrenceburg, his home.” Indeed he was. Fred was an inspirational supporter of The Patriot Post when we launched in 1996, and he offered this endorsement: “The Patriot Post’s message provides a critical touchstone for those inside the Beltway who have forgotten whom they serve.” Fred did not intend to serve more than one or two terms, but it was the death of his daughter Betsy in 2002 that really took the wind out of his political sails. In a personal note in 2003, Fred wrote, “Thanks to The Patriot Post for your considerable efforts to hold back the ‘Clintonistas’ while I was in the Senate.” As a lawyer, statesman, actor and fellow Tennessean, he will be missed. (A few great quotes from Fred…)