Fred Thompson - Nashville 6/26/07

I recently had the opportunity to meet a man that I, for no logical reason considered to be great.
Fred Thompson is a former U.S. Senator, actor, attorney, and lobbyist. Fred has formed a “testing-the-waters” committee which is a step that enables him to help identify and perceive the national climate in regard to a possible future presidential run. Thompson has made several trips and attended a few gathering in recent weeks, on one such occasion, he flew into Nashville, Tennessee, and that’s where the fun started.

Fred came in to Mercury Air Center at Nashville International Airport. Someone, somewhere along the line had become aware of this information and had begun to plan a support rally for Thompson. In a matter of a couple weeks, word spread throughout unofficial support groups, blogs, websites, and word of mouth that Thompson would be arriving in Nashville. That someone as mentioned above apparently jumped at this opportunity to make Fred feel more welcome than a fox in a henhouse. This enterprising individual decided to plan a support rally for Fred, invite many friends, fellow supporters, well-wishers, and local media, and post the plan for the event on the internet.

This is where I become involved. Up to this point, I had begun to do extensive research on Fred Thomson, and was aware of many support groups. Many of these support groups had posted this happening as public information.

So, a few days later, I awake at 2 am, get stuff lined out in my car, grab a few water bottles, and head out from central Illinois toward Nashville, Tennessee. Fast-forward to 8 am- I’m now at the airport in Nashville, introducing myself to some very energetic young folks that are very dedicated and ambitious in their support for Fred Thompson.

After waiting for a good while, meeting many new friends, and taking more than several pictures, Fred Thompson arrives.

Fred enters Mercury Air Center amid a crowd of about 60 people packed into the reception area - with well over 100 waiting outside for lack of standing room - waiting on him are two people, one a lady that had a banner from his earlier political ventures that he had signed- he obliged enthusiastically once more - and the other, a World War II veteran dressed in enlisted navy whites clutching a framed document that then Senator Thompson had sent to him. This man was overwhelmed with emotion as he spoke to Thompson, emotion that permeated the room, and spoke to the dedication of those that serve our country with distinction and valor. After receiving the two, Thompson introduced his wife and children, and spoke a few words to an anxious and adoring crowd.

It didn’t take long for reporters to begin with questions, nor for supporter to stop Fred repeatedly with wishes of success and pleads for his leadership. As he gradually made it from the inside of the reception area toward the outside of the building, the crowds outside picked up on the excitement and began a series of supportive chants such as “Run, Fred, Run” and simply “Fred!”. Thompson emerged to the crowds surrounded by applause, cheers, and waves of camera flashes.

Thompson then began to speak again, reiterating his earlier comments to a new crowd, and greeting the many supporters and friends that had gathered to greet him.

Prior to leaving for Tennessee, I had been chided by many for planning to undertake this ‘wasteful and pointless venture’ so I knew that I needed to seize any opportunity to meet this man that I had imagined as such a great character. Sometimes opportunities are seized, and other times they are made - my first encounter with Senator Fred Thompson was the latter.


While I was very anxious to greet Fred, I watched as he passed my location by not more than three or four feet. Watching this, I realized that if this was important enough to me to drive over 300 miles for, then I had ought-not be timid about meeting the guy - So then I met Fred Thompson.

On his approach, I essentially stopped in his tracks, extended my hand, and introduced myself. Thompson obliged politely, and I summoned my bravado and asked if he would be willing to indulge me in a photograph. Again, can’t go wrong be making your own opportunities - So I got my picture with Fred Thompson.



Shortly after a kind photographer accepted my request to photograph Fred and I, Thompson made his way to his waiting vehicles, and departed from the airport to go “Get some of his momma’s home-cooking”, as he had commented earlier inside the reception.
As the rally came to a close and friends and supporters began to withdraw, I recalled my brief encounter with Senator Thompson.

Throughout the previous few days, and certainly the hours prior to my meeting, was filled with anticipation about the prospect that I may have the opportunity to meet a great man. After meeting Thompson, I realized that I had met a man that was not simply great out of perception, but rather, out of fact.

As I began this article, I mentioned that for no logical reason I considered Fred to be great, I suppose that is a fair statement - I didn’t know Fred, and had never encountered him, nor even knowingly been within 100 miles of him at any given time in my life, but now I know Fred Thompson is a great man, not because I simply believe so, but because I was able to meet him, and hear first hand his ideas and level of understanding of our national and global situations. Fred Thompson is a great man because he is an ordinary man, simply an honest, devout American, with a drive to share his love of this country and the ability to help change a simple American nation into a great one.