[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 22732]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO SENATOR FRED THOMPSON

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my good 
friend and colleague, Senator Fred Thompson.
  Since his arrival in the Senate in 1994, Senator Thompson has been 
one of the most respected Members on both sides of the aisle. His 
constituents clearly have great admiration and respect for him. In 
1996, Senator Thompson received more votes than any other candidate in 
the history of Tennessee and won his reelection by more than twenty 
points!
  Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Senator Thompson has been a 
tremendous supporter of conservative ideals and principles. As a member 
of the Senate Finance Committee, he has fought to reduce taxes for his 
fellow Tennesseans and all Americans, and helped to stabilize Medicare 
and Social Security for future generations.
  As a member of the Senate Government Affairs Committee, I have had 
the privilege of working with Senator Thompson on various projects when 
he served as chairman, and later as the ranking Republican member. The 
Senator should be congratulated for his hard work on the President's 
priority to create the Homeland Security Department.
  In a recent interview, Senator Thompson said he has ``always looked 
at public service as more an interruption to a career than a career 
itself.'' It is now time for Senator Thompson to begin his new career 
as the District Attorney on the hit television show ``Law and Order.'' 
I wish my good friend Senator Thompson well in his new job, and I leave 
him with this little piece of advice: don't let Hollywood turn you into 
a liberal!
  Senator Thompson will be missed not just by me, but this entire body, 
the people of Tennessee and all Americans. I will miss him as a 
Senator, but look forward to watching my friend on Wednesday nights as 
he begins his new career on ``Law and Order.''

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