Jon Stewart Author Interview: Fred Thompson On His New Memoir 'Teaching The Pig To Dance' (VIDEO)

The title of Fred Thompson's memoir, "Teaching the Pig to Dance: A Memoir of Growing Up and Second Chances," was inspired by an expression he heard often while growing up: "Teaching a pig to dance is a waste of your time and it irritates the pig." Thompson explains that the people he grew up with saw him as that pig: stubborn and reluctant to change despite advice.

Thompson appeared on the Daily Show to discuss his adolescence, his failed presidential bid, and the BP oil spill. When asked whether his feelings on the presidential race, Thompson responded: "I had an insurmountable object to overcome in that presidential bid, and that was the wisdom and good judgment of the American people."

Thomspon said he still thought about what he would do if he were president, describing that he considered going down to the oil spill with a sponge "about every thirty minutes." He believed in the resilience of the area, but said "Any major disaster like that, there's really no quick solution to it."

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Comments

[Fenarkleman]

03:18 PM on 07/12/2010

Fred Thompson's goatee in a fight to the death versus that of NBC's Chuck Todd. Who wins? Yes, blast it all, that is exactly what America wants in its television! Facial hair fighting to the death. You have a problem with that?

[msoverall]

12:40 PM on 06/21/2010

I don' t agree with his politics, but he was funny, personable and completely aware regarding his lack of verve and everything else during the campaign. A good interview

[DevonTexas]

10:57 AM on 06/21/2010

As soon as I saw it was Thompson and then that innane title of his book, I changed the channel. It wasn't even worth waiting for my "moment of Zen" to watch this interview! YUK.

[Sean Myers]

09:42 PM on 06/20/2010

should have been titled "walking, not running, for office".

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

03:52 AM on 06/21/2010

I love it !!! hahahahahah!!!! It should've been titled, "When pigs fly...things that will never happen just like me being elected for something or anything!"

[Sean Myers]

11:10 PM on 06/26/2010

lmao! i like yours better!

[HarpoSnarx]

11:50 AM on 06/20/2010

"describing that he considered going down to the oil spill with a sponge 'about every thirty minutes'."

Please suit up Freddie, please suit up.

[MaliceCooper]

08:16 AM on 06/20/2010

Hey! That's no way to talk about your wife !

[Randy Shepherd]

03:16 AM on 06/20/2010

i really hate his politics, but i must say, he came off as very humble and likable, and who knew he had a sense of humor. i still won't vote for him, but i saw as a real person, with real life issues, not the typical politicians trying to decide which continent to vacation on, or how can the new BMW fit the 10 car garage.

[Mikeeee]

03:08 AM on 06/20/2010

All these yrs and he still can't dance or think or comprehend or ______________

[afroangel]

10:24 PM on 06/19/2010

is this another book about sarah palin?

[PDXTransplant]

12:04 PM on 06/19/2010

Oh heck I thought it was another book about RuShLiMbAuGh.

[theobsoleteman]

04:20 AM on 06/19/2010

The combination of Fred Thompson and the title of the book is repulsive. Bad mental imagery.

[carlosgriffin]

12:46 AM on 06/19/2010

Fred would have made a great president. Instead we got the absent-minded professor.

[Excitom]

05:29 PM on 06/19/2010

Thank you for the comic relief!

[afroangel]

10:23 PM on 06/19/2010

wait, i thought mccain lost. oh well maybe in your head he did win.

[wm1066]

04:27 PM on 06/18/2010

Well, you CAN"T teach a pig to dance...and I'm so glad he isn't our President !

[AZterritory]

05:13 PM on 06/18/2010

Faved. My first thought on the pig theme was "We needed Fred Thompson for prez like pigs need saddles." LOL

[eljefefx]

06:21 PM on 06/18/2010

Any particular reason why? I didn't care for what I saw was a lean too far to the right, but I thought his persona and his willingness to listen to people was an enduring trait.