“Fred Thompson is a Barry Goldwater movement conservative. After reading Barry Goldwater’s “Conscience of a Conservative” in 1963, he promptly became the first Republican in his family.
Sen. Goldwater’s book made quite the impression on young Fred Thompson. Bill Kirkland, who studied law with Thompson recalled:
“He was a very conservative Republican even then. He was a huge supporter of Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election.”
Though he was a reliable conservative as a Senator, Thompson was also a Federalist. Fred’s devotion to the principles laid down by founder James Madison would occasionally distinguish him from the pack. Michael D. Tanner of the Cato Institute observes: “
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1912286/posts
Good link, thanks I’ll read that.