Fred Thompson Funeral Filled With Laughs, Stories Of ‘Fred Thompson, As Himself’

Family, friends and colleagues filled Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium Friday morning to share stories of actor and politician Fred Thompson.

“The two professions aren’t as different as politicians and actors like to pretend,” said Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona.

McCain joked that he feared his own presidential campaign was doomed once Thompson announced he would run in the 2008 race.

“When you close your eyes and think of a president, you’re more likely to see Fred’s face than mine,” McCain said. “I think a lot of people thought he already was president.”

Everyone who eulogized Thompson mentioned his 6-foot-6 stature and booming voice.

“When Fred got on a tear, it would seem like God himself was addressing you, if God came from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, and had a drawl,” McCain said to laughter.

Country artists John Rich and Lee Greenwood both performed during the service. Thompson’s brother Ken told stories of growing up in Lawrenceburg and working on their dad’s car lot.

The speaker line-up also included Marie Ragghianti, who Thompson represented during Tennessee’s pardon scandal. The movie
Marie was made about the case, and Thompson was asked to play himself, which led to 20 films and TV shows, ranging from
The Hunt For Red October to “Law & Order.”

In each role, Thompson essentially played himself.

“Fred Thompson was Fred Thompson. What you saw was what you got,” said pastor Richard Land, who previously led the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy arm. “If you were going to give him a one-sentence biography, that would be it: Fred Thompson, as himself.”