Fred Thompson remembered as a natural

Fred Dalton Thompson, a giant in Tennessee politics whose career started in the courtroom and spanned to the big screen, was remembered by friends and family Friday for his booming voice, authenticity and wit, and commitment to conservatism.

More than 400 people, including multiple past U.S. Senate friends and Tennessee’s top Republican officeholders, packed downtown Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium on Friday morning for the public funeral service of Thompson, who died on Sunday at 73 following complications after a recurrence of lymphoma.

They celebrated the folksy, down-to-earth demeanor of the 6-foot, 5-inch Thompson, a Republican U.S. senator representing Tennessee from 1994 through 2003, whose personality they said was larger than life.

And they told stories of a man of many talents — an actor who never took an acting class and a politician who grew bored with the politics of Washington D.C — who was usually the envy of his peers.

“God certainly gave generously to Fred Dalton Thompson,” said U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., whose friendship with Thompson went back nearly 50 years. "That gift was so special, but all he had to do in life was play himself, and he did that to its fullest. Very few people could light up a room the way Fred Thompson could. And the truth is, that all of us in public life have always been a little bit jealous of Fred Thompson, because he had a special streak of magic in his personality none of the rest of us had.”

Alexander, who was elected to replace Thompson as U.S. Senator in 2002, said he and Thompson were known early on as “Howard Baker’s boys,” referring to the late former senator from Tennessee who was a mentor to both. Alexander said there’s a desk in the U.S. Senate chamber today with the carvings of all three of their names.

"We will miss his common sense, his conservative principles, his big laugh and his booming voice," Alexander said of Thompson.

The hour-and-a-half funeral service featured a video montage of Thompson that included a clip from his role in the television drama "Law and Order" and snippets from his career in politics. There were musical performances of "Amazing Grace" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by country artist John Rich and "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood.

Fred Thompson, with larger-than-life persona, dies at 73

Also taking the podium to talk about Thompson were U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the Republican nominee for president in 2008; Marie Ragghianti, a whistleblower who exposed Tennessee Gov. Ray Blanton's "clemency for cash" scandal in the 1970s and was represented by Thompson, the attorney; and Thompson's younger brother, Ken Thompson. Richard Land, a Southern Baptist pastor and president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary, delivered Thompson's eulogy.

"You could spend five minutes with the man and see he was a better campaigner than you were and better than just any other politician you know," McCain said. "He was as natural a politician as he was an actor. The two professions aren’t as different as actors and politicians like to think.”

Thompson served as a national co-chair of McCain’s 2000 presidential run and was later pitted against McCain in the 2008 Republican presidential primary ultimately won by McCain.

McCain, who choked up Friday as he talked about his friend and neighbor in the Senate chamber, said that Thompson always played himself — in politics, movies and life.

“Why would he be anyone else?” he said. “He was a towering 6-foot-5, bear of a man with a sly wit and a down-to-earth sensibility that punctured the pretensions of big shots and earned the loyalty of regular folks.

"He had that booming, cannon of a voice that could amuse, inspire and terrify you all at the same time," McCain said. "What an asset that was for a politician. There was so much authority in it. I don't think it always mattered exactly what Fred was saying, just the sound of him could get you to do what he wanted you to do. When Fred got onto a tear it would seem like God himself was addressing you — if God came from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and had a drawl."

In an especially touching tribute, Thompson’s younger brother by eight years, Ken Thompson, recalled their upbringing in Lawrenceburg, which he likened to “Mayberry," and laughed that he liked to get on his brother’s nerves as a kid. He said his brother was the same to everyone regardless of stature.

Fred Thompson: Legacy, remembrances, 40 years of photos

"People always say he was so himself, in every circumstance — with the most powerful people, and the most ordinary people,” he said. “That, to me, is powerful.”

Ken Thompson also recalled some of his final conversations with his brother, saying Fred was “disgusted, angry and most upset” about the direction of the country in his final days. But despite his outlook on the state of the nation, Ken Thompson said his brother was satisfied that he had lived a full life.

“I guess 73 is considered a pretty young age these days,” Ken Thompson remembered Fred saying. “But I lived enough for two lifetimes."

Thompson, who was born in Alabama and raised in Tennessee, attended Memphis State University and later Vanderbilt School of Law. He would go onto become an assistant U.S. attorney and legal counsel on the Senate Watergate Committee investigating President Richard Nixon.

He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994 by Tennesseans in a race against Democrat Jim Cooper to fill the Senate seat held by then Vice President Al Gore.  As an actor, Thompson starred on the longtime television series “Law and Order” as well as in movies such as “The Hunt for Red October,” “Die Hard 2,” and “Days of Thunder.”

“Fred Thompson in real life was John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Gary Cooper wrapped into one," Land said. "No other country makes people like Fred Thompson. He is quintessentially American. His story is a quintessential American story.

“You just knew that Fred Thompson was going to do what he believed was the best thing for the country, the best thing for his countryman and the best thing for the next generation.”

Fred Thompson friends, family pay respects with laughs

Ragghianti remembered Thompson as a “gigantic, charismatic man” who filled the rooms he walked into. She said she was “struck by his wry sense of humor even during the most trying of circumstances” when Thompson represented her during the Blanton scandal.

Ragghianti said Thompson loved politics — that is, until he got too close to “incompetence, mediocrity or corruption.” She called Thompson a politician who quickly got bored after reaching the Senate and frustrated by the lack of collaboration in Washington.

“He was a natural in every respect,” she said. “He had a strong work ethic and he could not tolerate laziness. He believed in hard work and he believed in the principles upon which this nation was built. He was a patriot in every sense of the word.”

Dignitaries in attendance Friday included Republican Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.; Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam; former Gov. Don Sundquist; former U.S. Sen. Bill Brock and former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, both from Tennessee. Numerous Republican state lawmakers, party officials and several Democrats also attended. Former University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer was also in attendance.

Following the public service in Nashville, family and friends of Thompson headed to his native Lawrenceburg for a private burial service and ceremony.

Thompson is survived by his wife, Jeri Thompson, and their children Hayden and Sammy; his brother, Ken; his adult children Tony and Dan; and several grandchildren. Many served as pallbearers at Thompson’s funeral service Friday.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison. Reach Dave Boucher at dboucher@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.