Fred Thompson, Former Senator and 2008 Presidential Hopeful, Dies at 73
Fred Thompson's political career spanned several decades and included some unique twists. The former Tennessee senator died in Nashville on Sunday.
Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock
Former Tennessee senator and onetime presidential candidate Fred Thompson died of lymphoma on Sunday. He was 73.
As The New York Times reported after the announcement of his passing, Thompson’s political career included some unique chapters:
Mr. Thompson had an unusual career that bridged the worlds of national politics and mass-market entertainment. He served nine years in the Senate and ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
He was also a regular cast member on the NBC drama “Law & Order,” where he parlayed his gravitas as a politician into a regular role as Arthur Branch, a Manhattan district attorney.
The Times’ obit also noted that Thompson served as an investigator in the Watergate case.
Here is Thompson’s final scene as Arthur Branch on the long-running NBC show (via YouTube):
–Posted by Kasia Anderson
Wait, before you go…If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.