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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