Teaching the Pig to Dance: A Memoir of Growing Up and Second Chances

by Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson has enjoyed a remarkable career in Hollywood and politics, but when he sat down to write a memoir about how he got to be the person he is, he discovered that his best stories all seemed to come out of the years he spent growing up in and around his hometown of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. It was a small town but not the smallest—after all, it was the county seat and it did have a courthouse, a couple of movie theaters, and its own Davy Crockett statue. For truly small, you had to travel to nearby Summertown, where the regular Sunday dinner was possum and chocolate gravy. But Lawrenceburg is where Fred got to be a kid, get in his share of trouble and scrapes, get to know folks he didn’t realize were so colorful at the time but sure does now, get married, have a few kids, become a man, and start his career as a country lawyer (pretty much in that order). And as Fred tells it, getting that law degree was something of a surprise for him, since in school he’d been less than stellar as a scholar. “Teaching Latin to someone like me,” he says, “was like trying to teach a pig to dance. It’s a waste of the teacher’s time and it irritates the pig.”
 
In these reflections, as hilarious as they are honest and warm, Fred touches on the influences—family, hometown neighbors and teachers, team sports, jobs, romances, and personal crises—that molded his character, his politics, and the way he looks at life today. We get to know the unforgettable characters who congregated at the Blue Ribbon Café, like the rotund gentleman called “Shorty” whose claim to fame was his ability to quickly suck in his stomach and cause his pants to fall to the floor. Or Fred’s Grandma Thompson, who became an early TV adopter for the sole purpose of watching “Wrestling from Hollywood” and who once had a “gourder” removed from her neck and subsequently walked around town with it in a handkerchief showing it to folks. One day Fred and an accomplice placed small explosive Fourth of July “cracker balls” under the four legs of their teacher’s chair. Mrs. Garner sat down and, despite the racket, didn’t flinch so much as a muscle—but Fred felt a twinge of the one emotion he hated most—shame. Fred idolized Coach Staggs from his high school football days, even though he was “like Captain Ahab without the humor” and didn’t like smart alecks, comics, or individualists, which put the young Fred at a disadvantage. More than anyone else from those days though, Fred remembers his mom and dad, who taught him that kids are shaped most of all by the love and support they can take for granted.
 
Teaching the Pig to Dance will delight everyone who admires Fred Thompson for his contributions to politics or for his work in movies and on TV, along with all those who just love to hear rollicking but unforgettable stories about growing up in a place where, as one of the local old timers put it, “We weren’t big enough to have a town drunk, so a few of us had to take turns.”


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Politics, Memoir, Ebooks, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Fred Thompson was an American politician, actor, attorney, lobbyist, columnist, 2008 presidential candidate and radio host. As an attorney, he helped lead the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Thompson, a Republican, served in the United States Senate representing Tennessee from 1994 to 2003.

As an actor, Thompson appeared in a number of movies and television shows as well as in commercials. In 2002 Thompson joined the cast of the long-running NBC television series Law & Order for a five-year run.

Thompson died after a recurrence of lymphoma. He was married to Jeri Kehn, with whom he has two children. Thompson and his first wife had three children: Fred "Tony" Thompson Jr., Daniel and Elizabeth. Elizabeth died in 2002.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir of Fred Thompson's life growing up. A lot on his childhood and his time in school, not a lot about his acting or political career. He's as he is in print as he is when out and about, so the read was pleasant enough, but I'm not sure he's someone I needed to read a memoir about either.

Then again, I say the same thing about nearly every memoir I read, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm, funny memoir. Very little about politics.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred Thompson is the former Senator and Law & Order star who also ran for President in 2008. The memoir focuses mostly on his early years, with a few glimpses into more recent times. It is very engaging. He is open about making many mistakes and how his teachers, family, and friends helped him get past the stumbles to still work hard and succeed in life. Lots of humor and solid values. Overall a fun read.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Want to know why it took me so long to read it? It's because I had it on my nightstand and did my reading before going to sleep at night. That's a really slow way to read, but at least Fred's book put me in a happy mood, which is a good way to end the day. What I love most about it is that Fred doesn't take himself seriously; he's willing to poke fun at himself. How many lawyers, actors, and/or politicians do you know with that great quality?

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read, regardless of which side of the political aisle you prefer. Its a look back at a time that was, and what it was like growing up in the heartland surrounded by people of strong ethical constitution.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. It is too bad we don't have more like him both in politics and Hollywood. He was such a wellspring of wisdom and good ole' common sense. He will be missed.

[Daire Paddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm hugely torn... I think I wanted to enjoy it more than I did. Possibly because of the title. I found the second half of the book so much more interest, because it had actual insight to offer. The first few chapters seemed to just be cliched advice about 'life' and anecdotes about a boy I would have HATED if he was in my class at school. The adult life sections were definitely more interesting, it's just a shame there weren't more of them!

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly this is a pretty standard politician memoir with Thompson's own spin on it. There's nothing surprising or especially insightful here, it's what you might expect if a popular neighbor wrote a book. There's nothing upsetting or exciting in it, and it comes off as a bit hackneyed. However there's enough good here that it was enjoyable and I didn't feel like it was a waste of time. This is a "check out of the library but don't buy it" kind of book.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was completely surprised with how good this book was. I knew that Fred Thompson was an actor and a senator, but that was about it. In some cases, I liked roles he played. In others, I didn't like him at all. However, his writing style was engaging and it felt like we were having a conversation.

[Stacey Gish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick look back at his life. He doesn't spend a lot of pages on his Watergate years or acting, but more on his growing up years and how he feels those experiences shaped the person he is today. Interesting pieces of info that I did not know.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred Thompson delivers a humorous and yet thoughtful description of his life and thoughts on politics and growing up in the south. An enjoyable, quick read for those who admire Fred Thompson and even those who don't know him very well.

[Gail Burch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book about growing up in the small-town south and learning common sense. It's about appreciating friends and neighbors, and all types of people. Fred Thompson may have been a politician and a move and TV star, but you can tell from this book that he's a real person, too.

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read whether you agree with his politics or not. He has a very interesting life story & I enjoyed it immensely.

[Trish]

Wish Mr. Thompson wrote about his Nixon Watergate days. I did enjoy the book and how he became a Senator and an Actor.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witty and hard work does pay off.

[Ellen Maze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and fast read if you like Fred Thompson. He has a down-home flavor to his thought-processes that I identify with!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simply written, but with good messages.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the tale of growing up in "small town" middle Tennessee.

[Cheryl Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred Thompson has a very appealing way of writing his memoirs! And what an interesting life he's had, too! Great book.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is always fun to read about your hometown!

[Lorrie Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred Thompson is open about his life. What an example he is to not taking yourself too seriously while growing up with values and a great attitude. Take note

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny sometimes, but mostly boring and flat.

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 4 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “SMALL TOWN VALUES & LOVE OF FAMILY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN POLITICS.”
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Though author Fred Thompson is a former U.S. Senator… as well as a former co-star of Hollywood’s long running television series “LAW AND ORDER… and more than likely can fill a country barn with all his accumulated “name-dropping” stories… Fred instead found it much more fulfilling to share with the world his humble background that started in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. He introduces his family tree in an almost “ah-shucks” manner that is dripping with love… respect… and the images of days gone by… in an America that unfortunately doesn’t seem to exist much anymore. The reader very quickly gets the feeling that if this was a movie made in the golden era of Hollywood… the stars would be Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda.

In describing his Father he conveys his undying affection for the hard working example his Dad laid out in his daily life… along with an unstoppable impish wit… that never knew a wrong situation to be unleashed in. His Mother… as if cast in Hollywood rather than Tennessee… had to bite her lip… look the other way… or simply lose her personal fight to not laugh out loud… when a comment or an action providing a life lesson… was punctuated with ill-timed (to her) levity. As one might expect if you’ve ever heard Senator Thompson speak… almost every story is built around good-old-fashioned-all-American-country-pure-wisdom. Such as when he describes most of the farmer’s from his town: “USUALLY HAVING LITTLE IN THE WAY OF A FORMAL EDUCATION, A MAN’S REPUTATION FOR HARD WORK AND KEEPING HIS WORD WERE HIS MOST VALUABLE ASSETS.” In depicting the use of alcohol it was pretty clear cut: “THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS A SOCIAL DRINKER. EITHER YOU DRANK OR YOU DIDN’T, AND DRINKING MEANT GETTING RIP-ROARING DRUNK.” Though his Father had a few bad habits when he was younger he straightened up under his wife’s influence… which of course reminded Fred of a country analogy: “A STORY ABOUT A FELLOW WHO, AFTER YEARS OF LOW-DOWN BEHAVIOR, WAS HIT ACROSS THE HEAD BY A TWO-BY-FOUR- AND THEN REFORMED.” “NOBODY EVER EXPLAINED THINGS TO ME LIKE THAT BEFORE, HE SAID.”
Thompson’s early love of the movies… his time spent in church… and probably just as important as any stories in this successful man’s life… were the ones he tells of when he was growing up and knew he had done wrong… and waited for the other foot to drop… but some kindly soul didn’t turn him in. He tried to return that benevolence himself when the opportunity presented itself.

As a Father and Grandfather myself… I still to this day am so thankful for having had the greatest Father in the world… so it is touching and refreshing when a man like Fred says: “DAD SET THE STANDARD FOR WHAT A MAN OUGHT TO BE- STRONG AND PROTECTIVE OF THOSE WHO DEPENDED ON HIM. TRUSTWORTHY AND STRIVING EVERY DAY TO BE A BETTER MAN. IT BECAME A STANDARD BY WHICH I MEASURED THINGS, WHETHER I LIVED UP TO THEM OR NOT!” Ever the realist… Fred summarizes near the end of the book: “THE KEY IS NOT ALWAYS TO LIVE UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT ARE SET FOR YOU BUT THAT YOU ALWAYS TRY. IT’S LIKE WHAT SOMEONE SAID ABOUT A CONSCIENCE:” “IT DOESN’T KEEP YOU FROM ENGAGING IN BAD BEHAVIOR, IT JUST MAKES IT SO YOU CAN’T ENJOY IT NEARLY AS MUCH. AND I DIDN’T ENJOY IT VERY MUCH WHEN I DID NOT LIVE UP TO DAD’S STANDARDS.”

A book by a politician… that’s not too much about politics… but about things that are more important!

[Jon]

What do a former senator and former rock star, Pat Benatar, have in common? They both stayed classy and refused to dish up nasty gossip about their colleagues in their autobiographies. Thompson's book wasn't exactly what I was expecting when I spotted it on the library shelves. I thought Fred would use some ink to talk about his failed presidential campaign and really hammer home some conservative talking points, but instead he spent his time talking about how growing up in a small town formed his personality and ideals.

Thompson grew up in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, where he enjoyed the simple pleasures and got into the minor scrapes and scraps that are familiar to most of us in flyover country. His grandparents moved there around the time of the Great Depression, and adopted the philosophy that hard work and a bit of luck were enough to get by on, in our land of opportunity.

While not a spectacular student, Thompson did well enough in his classes to get accepted at law school, and when he graduated he hung up his shingle with a partner, performing small town law, mostly defending DUIs and handling divorces and wills. Whenever opportunity knocked, he took on the challenge, and eventually was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served for eight years. He also began a career as an actor in movies and on tv, playing a prosecuting attorney on the series Law and Order. In 2000, he threw his hat in the ring in the presidential primaries, but was eliminated fairly early from being a contender.

This is the kind of book where you feel like you're sitting around the fireplace in Thompson's family room, while he relates a few anecdotes, sprinkled with a wry humor, and a self deprecation that's quite charming.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun glimpse into a person I hadn't known much about. I enjoyed his sense of humour.

[Paschalis]

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[Carol Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, fun read about Thompson’s youth in a small TN town and the characters who lived there. Very little about his political career.

[Robert A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read and funny Growing up in a small town and all the way to Hollywood