Published: June 11, 2007
Op-Ed Contributor
Waiting for Fred
By Charles Bierbauer 
I knew an actor in the White House, Ronald Reagan. As biographer Lou Cannon described it, being president was "the role of a lifetime" for Reagan. All else aside, Reagan genuinely looked, sounded and acted the part.
The notion of an actor running for president, as a result, is more plausible now than it was when Reagan was elected in 1980. Enter Fred Thompson, stage right, of course.
If you think about it, you have to be something of an actor to be good at being president. Consider George Washington in full uniform posing for that Gilbert Stuart portrait. Abraham Lincoln in that supreme moment at the Gettysburg cemetery. Teddy Roosevelt in best "Rough Rider" form. Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his fireside chats. That was radio acting, no insignificant challenge. Television rendered sweater-clad Jimmy Carter's firesides an ineffectual parody of FDR.
In 1980, Carter was upstaged by Reagan, the actor/governor/ideologue who had swept aside his Republican challengers. "I paid for this microphone," Reagan declaimed in one New Hampshire primary debate, as if to say the rest of you are amateurs on this stage.
"I just go where they tell me, "Reagan reflected on his Oval Office performance. His image meisters saw it differently. As an actor, he knew how to "hit his marks," visually, verbally and symbolically. If he did not think of himself as "the great communicator," his admirers and even much of the media accorded him that.
On Saturday mornings, Reagan would deliver a five-minute radio address, highlighting a theme of the week. With an actor's pride, he would take a long drink of hot water - Frank Sinatra taught him it loosened the pipes - and finish his script on the dot.
Other actors have won elected office: Senator George Murphy, Congressmen Sonny Bono, Ben "Cooter" Jones, Fred "Gopher" Grandy, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. We won't debate their acting skills here. Al Gore may not be an actor, but he's got an Oscar.
Actors, producers and directors may have a disproportionate voice in American politics these days, perhaps because they have a disproportionate share of wealth. But we would not deny them their First Amendment voice. As with all who speak up in the political arena, we may choose to heed or ignore.
The proliferation of media in our society has created a blurring of the lines between fact and fiction. Garrison Keillor introduced his "Prairie Home Companion" guest this weekend as "former President Martin Sheen." Actor Sheen occupied the televised "West Wing" as President Josiah Bartlett. The real Josiah Bartlett was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and, in the 1790s, "president" of New Hampshire, a title later changed to governor.
Which brings us back to Fred Thompson. Tennessee twice elected him to serve in the U.S. Senate, which puts him on a par with about half the presidential field. Thompson's screen resume is more wide ranging - a general, an admiral, a senator, CIA director, White House chief of staff, and a couple of presidents - one fictional, another a portrayal of Ulysses S. Grant. There are also more than 100 "Law and Order" episodes as District Attorney Arthur Branch.
Thompson's acting resume is at least Reaganesque. Neither ever won an Oscar or an Emmy.
Many analysts are recalling the words of Hollywood producer Jack Warner when told Reagan was running for president. "No, no, no," Warner said. "Jimmy Stewart for president. Ronald Reagan for best friend."
Stewart, as the story goes, was not available. Reagan was. Thompson, as the story seems to be unfolding, is both available and eager.
Many Republicans, having watched their ten declared candidates debate on several occasions, seem to be like Becket's characters Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot. Becket's play is both comic and tragic, centering on the unseen and enigmatic Godot. The promise at the end of each day that Godot does not show is "but surely tomorrow."
Vladimir and Estragon are paralyzed by inactivity awaiting that tomorrow. The Republican candidates are hardly inactive, but the dynamic of the Republican campaign is going nowhere while all are waiting for Fred.
Charles Bierbauer was CNN's senior White House correspondent during the Reagan administration. He is currently dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies at the University of South Carolina, though the views here are his own and not those of the university. Dean Bierbauer is also the senior contributing editor and consultant to www.schotline.com.
Charles Bierbauer
100 Sunset Boulevard Suite 203
West Columbia, SC 29169
* The views of Opinion writers do not necessarily reflect the views of NewsBlaze
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