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Act, Fred, Act! Thompson Drops Politics

posted: 222 DAYS 7 HOURS AGO

comments: 114

filed under: Movie News, Politics, TV News

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 21) - Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson is going back to the small screen after his foray into Republican presidential politics over the last year.

Thompson, best known on TV for his role as a gruff district attorney on NBC's "Law & Order," dropped out of the crowded GOP primaries in January after his much-anticipated presidential campaign failed to gain strong support among conservatives.

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He campaigned heavily for eventual nominee John McCain, and had recently tried to gain support to be in charge of the Republican National Committee.

But his former finance chairman, B.C. "Scooter" Clippard, said Thompson told him Wednesday that he was returning to acting and dropping his RNC bid.

"He seriously considered it, but he called and said that it was not in the cards," Clippard said.

Clippard said he did not know which television programs might be interested in Thompson.

"He has some wonderful opportunities back in the television market that probably financially far outweigh being chair of the RNC," Clippard said.

Thompson, 66, was a lawyer and character actor before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1993, only to turn his back on politics after his first full term in favor of a full-time acting career in 2002.

Thompson began his acting career playing himself in the film "Marie" in 1985, about a high-profile legal case he handled in Tennessee.

And while his presidential ambitions didn't pan out, at least Thompson got to play the commander in chief as Ulysses S. Grant in the 2007 TV movie "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-11-21 14:38:55

Dan Steinberg, AP

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HAdameve

03:56 AMNov 23 2008

Politics has become a gameshow.

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HAdameve

03:54 AMNov 23 2008

ftuftftu

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Grandmami14

10:14 PMNov 23 2008

before clinton wqas nixon reagan old bush joung bush then why always is clinton he was the best president

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CitizenIconJon

09:50 PMNov 23 2008

Thats funny WrtWst, talk about small mindedness, no one said anything there racial. Keep in mind the Democratic Party FOUNDED THE KKK. Wrtwst 01:48 PMNov 22 2008 Everyone who spoke at the RNC convention, was a KKK member, or at least they sounded like it! Including Lurch !

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CitizenIconJon

09:49 PMNov 23 2008

Thats funny WrtWst, talk about small mindedness, no one said anything there racial. Keep in mind the Democratic Party FOUNDED THE KKK.Wrtwst 01:48 PMNov 22 2008 Everyone who spoke at the RNC convention, was a KKK member, or at least they sounded like it! Including Lurch !

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Mspolletjr

09:16 PMNov 23 2008

send the hick to nashville !!!

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Fieldsfamily2006

05:40 PMNov 22 2008

the gop is a joke! ideas older than the dinosaurs. i see the party dying a fast painful death.its like whos who in insanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Jjpalazzini

04:36 PMNov 22 2008

He is a lousy actor, and as a politician, he's even worse.

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Sdave7596

03:51 PMNov 22 2008

Fred has no political career because he doesn't deserve one - he is lazy and ran a half assed campaign at best....he likes to compare himself to Ronald Reagan all the time....what a joke...Reagan was older than Thompson and had far more energy and enthusiasm....stick to acting, Fred, and your trophy wife who seems more like a daughter than a spouse...

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NordicChicMN

01:58 PMNov 22 2008

Fred Thompson, another "family values" Repug >> NOT! He had to get another acting job because at age 66 he is married to a woman half his age, divorced I don't know how many times w/ kids from other women, & has tiny little babies to support!! YUCK. WHAT AN OLD LETCH.

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