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Fred Thompson Related to Elvis Presley

The Elvis Connection
Jimmy Carter, Howard Dean & Fred Thompson kin to the ‘King’

Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts of the Washington Post report that former Sen. Fred Thompson has a family relation with rock ‘King’ Elvis Presley.

Specifically, they are eighth cousins once removed, according to research by Washington genealogist William Addams Reitwiesner. The former Tennessee senator’s late father, Fletcher Thompson, and The King shared a set of great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents

As the newest entry into the messy Republican presidential primary, Thompson now has another expectations battle to contend with. His announcement on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno was lackluster to say the least, and by waiting so long to enter the race after annoucements of announcements of announcements, the expectation bar for Thompson is high.

And now Elvis.

Being compared with the unassailable status of Elvis Presley is yet another unreachable goal. But Thompson isn’t reaching that high, only to the White House, the respect of which has been dragged to the dregs of dishonor by the current occupant. And an Elvis connection gives Thompson a bit of a rock star image, almost making his relationship with a much younger woman socially acceptable.

Fred Thompson and his long-term groupie

Despite his wellspring of genetic greatness, researchers seem to have found only one American president related to Presley. And no, despite his supposed Secret Service nickname, it’s not Bill Clinton– it’s Jimmy Carter, a sixth cousin once removed, descended from the same German immigrant. Howard Dean, a tenth cousin, washed up in the ‘04 race after failing to publicize his Presley kinship.

Thompson, who even lived in Memphis in the early ’60s around the time Presley was settling in at Graceland, was traveling yesterday, but a campaign rep responded: “I guess it’s peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches on the press bus from now on.”

Another Elvis presidential connection was one of his own initiation, in a six page chicken scratch letter to President Nixon, Elvis requested a meeting to become a Federal Agent at Large:

Original Elvis Presley letter to President Nixon excerpt & transcription

Elvis got his meeting, making that quasi-presidential connection #4, along with his very distant relations to President Jimmy Carter, 2004 presidential hopeful Howard Dean, and 2008 presidential hopeful Fred Thompson.

We’ll be on the lookout for more Elvis presidential connections in the run up to 2008 election.

Till then, do as Elvis said:

Elvis Quotes

“When things go wrong don’t go with them”

“Do what’s right for you, as long as it don’t hurt no one”

“We’re all just waiting to see what changes, if any, will be made,”

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http://tinyurl.com/ywmrdv, http://tinyurl.com/2nz649, http://www.cbsnews.com/images/2006/05/01/image1562582.jpg, http://www.finalcall.com/artman/uploads/iraq_troops03-14-2006b.jpg, http://www.house.gov/hastert/gallery/large/joint-session-bush-cheney.jpg, http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/elvis/photos/020415_1335/pages/5364-14.htm, http://mix.fresqui.com/files/images/davidpatreaus.jpg, http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/gallery/2004/01/20/newdaanapgallery.jpg, http://tinyurl.com/2qla6t

See also: Fred Thompson Announces Nonchanantly on Leno

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