Thompson Balanced in Probes

With a critical role in several high-profile congressional investigations over three decades, Fred Thompson struggled to balance investigating targets and defending them. In its effort to illuminate the presidential hopeful’s political biography, the Times looks at Thompson’s role in the Watergate hearings, the probe into Reagan’s CIA chief, and the investigation of Clinton’s fund-raising scandals.

Thompson initially held the party line during Watergate, apparently on the prompting of the president—but ultimately saw the light. The Times treats his Clinton-era voting record more favorably, pointing out that he insisted on expanding the Independent Counsel's efforts to include Republican scandal, infuriating his backers. (More Fred Thompson stories.)