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Reagan's men root for his fellow actor
Ronald Reagan's closest allies are throwing their weight behind the bid by the late president's fellow actor, Fred Thompson, for the White House.
- The Telegraph Group
- Published: 00:00 April 30, 2007
- Fred Thompson.
- Image Credit: AP
Washington: Ronald Reagan's closest allies are throwing their weight behind the bid by the late president's fellow actor, Fred Thompson, for the White House.
The film star and former Republican senator from Tennessee will this week use a speech in the heart of Reagan country, in Southern California, to woo party bigwigs in what insiders say is the next step in his coming out as a candidate.
A key figure in the Reagan inner circle has now given his seal of approval to Thompson, best known as a star of the television crime drama Law and Order.
As deputy Chief of Staff, Michael Deaver was a key member of the "troika" of aides who kept the Reagan White House on track. With the then Chief of Staff James Baker and special assistant Ed Meese, he was the master of image and presentation.
Deaver sees the same raw material in Thompson as was perceived in Reagan, describing him as someone "that could really make a difference". He added: "He is very popular in his party. He could change this whole thing and turn this primary system upside down.
"As Ronald Reagan used to say, after he stole a line from Al Jolson, 'Stay tuned, you ain't seen nothing yet'."
Thompson's political and acting careers have been closely interwoven for more than 20 years. He originally worked as a lawyer and Republican campaign manager, and was a key legal counsel in the Watergate scandal.
He was then asked to play himself in a 1985 film about a real-life judicial corruption scandal in Tennessee, supposedly because the producers could not find a professional actor who could portray him plausibly. That launched his acting career, which he has maintained alongside stints as a senator and continued Republican campaigning.
Deaver voiced the views of many Republicans that the current crop of declared candidates is unsatisfactory. Of the front runner, the former New York mayor Rudi Giuliani, he said: "His popularity may be a mile wide and an inch deep. I'm sure that lead will shrink."
On Friday Thompson will address the 45th annual dinner of the Lincoln Club, which is billed as the "largest and most active political club in the United States". The invitation was one that other Republican candidates had tried to secure.
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