Jeri Kehn Thompson
Encyclopedia
Jeri Kehn Thompson is an American radio talk show host, columnist
for The American Spectator
, political commentator, and former political consultant for the Washington, D.C.
law firm of Verner Liipfert. She has also worked for the Republican
Senate Conference and the Republican National Committee
. She was also employed with the public relations and lobbying firm Burson-Marsteller.
Thompson is married to Fred Thompson, former United States Senator
, lawyer, lobbyist, screen actor, and former 2008 U.S. Republican Party presidential candidate
.
, but grew up in Naperville, Illinois
, with her mother Vicki, stepfather Ron Keller and a younger sister. She graduated with a degree in English literature
from Indiana
's DePauw University
in 1988 and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi
sorority.
Jeri Kehn and Fred Thompson first met on July 4, 1996 while both were in the checkout line at a Kroger
supermarket. They were married on June 29, 2002 at First Congregational United Church of Christ
in Naperville. It was her first marriage and the senator's second.
On September 27, 2003, she gave birth to a daughter, Hayden. A second child, Samuel, was born in November 2006.
When they married in 2002, she was 35 years old and he was 59. A New York Times article dated July 8, 2007 considered whether the so-called "May–December marriage
" could become a campaign issue, noting that "she is not a home wrecker" and is "accomplished in her own right".
In mid-December 2007, the Associated Press
asked some of the 2008 candidates what their favorite possession was. Whereas Rudy Giuliani
said his grandfather's pocketwatch, Fred Thompson responded tongue-in-cheek
, "trophy wife
."
. She now appears on Fox talk show Hannity
.
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for The American Spectator
The American Spectator
The American Spectator is a conservative U.S. monthly magazine covering news and politics, edited by R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. and published by the non-profit American Spectator Foundation. From its founding in 1967 until the late 1980s, the small-circulation magazine featured the writings of authors...
, political commentator, and former political consultant for the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
law firm of Verner Liipfert. She has also worked for the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Senate Conference and the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
. She was also employed with the public relations and lobbying firm Burson-Marsteller.
Thompson is married to Fred Thompson, former United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, lawyer, lobbyist, screen actor, and former 2008 U.S. Republican Party presidential candidate
Fred Thompson presidential campaign, 2008
Fred Thompson was a Republican Party primary candidate to represent his party in the 2008 United States presidential election. Thompson has worked as a lawyer, lobbyist, and character actor, and he represented Tennessee as a Republican in the U.S...
.
Early life
Thompson is a native of Hastings, NebraskaHastings, Nebraska
Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States. It is the principal city of the Hastings, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Adams and Clay counties. The population was 24,907 at the 2010 census...
, but grew up in Naperville, Illinois
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
, with her mother Vicki, stepfather Ron Keller and a younger sister. She graduated with a degree in English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
's DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
in 1988 and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 134 active chapters and over 330 alumnae organizations across the United States and...
sorority.
Marriage and family
Kroger
The Kroger Co. is an American supermarket chain founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It reported US$ 76.7 billion in sales during fiscal year 2009. It is the country's largest grocery store chain and its second-largest grocery retailer by volume and second-place general retailer...
supermarket. They were married on June 29, 2002 at First Congregational United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
in Naperville. It was her first marriage and the senator's second.
On September 27, 2003, she gave birth to a daughter, Hayden. A second child, Samuel, was born in November 2006.
When they married in 2002, she was 35 years old and he was 59. A New York Times article dated July 8, 2007 considered whether the so-called "May–December marriage
Age disparity in sexual relationships
Age disparity in sexual relationships refers to sexual relations between people with a significant difference in age. Whether these relationships are accepted and the question of what counts as a significant difference in age has varied over time; and varies over cultures, different legal systems,...
" could become a campaign issue, noting that "she is not a home wrecker" and is "accomplished in her own right".
In mid-December 2007, the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
asked some of the 2008 candidates what their favorite possession was. Whereas Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
said his grandfather's pocketwatch, Fred Thompson responded tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...
, "trophy wife
Trophy wife
Trophy wife is an expression used to describe a wife, usually young and attractive, who is regarded as a status symbol for the husband, who is often older and affluent.-History:The term's etymological origins are disputed...
."
Political involvement
According to news reports, Jeri Thompson wielded considerable influence within her husband's presidential campaign, as a top political adviser. She urged her husband to run, she also recruited some of his staff, and she reportedly was responsible for the dismissal of others. She is a board member of Susan B. Anthony ListSusan B. Anthony List
The Susan B. Anthony List, or simply SBA List, is a 501 non-profit, non-partisan organization that seeks to eliminate abortion in the U.S. by supporting pro-life politicians, primarily women, through its SBA List Candidate Fund political action committee...
. She now appears on Fox talk show Hannity
Hannity
Hannity is a television show on the Fox News network, a replacement to the long-running show Hannity & Colmes. It is hosted by conservative political pundit Sean Hannity....
.
External links
- The Rise Of Jeri Thompson Alec MacGillis and John Solomon, Washington Post August 5, 2007
- The Naperville Sun Newspaper Article.