MR. THOMPSON: Nobody’s made any accusations that he’s done anything illegal with regard to our campaign. Now, what, what I understand is, from, from, from reading this story and from, from third parties is that when, when, when Phil was in his 20s, 24 years ago or something like that, these things came about. I know that—I did not know about that. They were in Florida; I was in Tennessee. After this he moved to Tennessee. I know Phil is a good man. He is my friend. He is going to remain my friend. He didn’t go to jail, he got probation, he’s paid his debt to society and turned himself around and become a good, productive, successful citizen. And I’m going to have to take a look at it. I’m going to have to talk to Phil, make sure I understand the nature of the situation and figure out what the right thing is. I’m not going to throw my friend under the bus for something he did, you know, 25 years ago if he’s OK now. On the other hand, I’m running for president, I—I’ve got, you know, to, to do the right thing, you know, and problems occur, and I’ll just have to figure it out.

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MR. RUSSERT: You’ve lost a considerable lot of weight. Is it health-related?

MR. THOMPSON: Coming from you, I consider that compliment, Tim, but no, no, it’s not health-related. I, you know, we had a diet around our house that was imposed a while back and, basically, you know, if it tastes real good, don’t eat it, you know. But I was encouraged by, by my wife and other people in the health field, you know, to, to watch my cholesterol, to watch my weight, to exercise more. I exercise on a regular basis, and I eat better than I ever have and...

MR. RUSSERT: But you were—you have been diagnosed with lymphoma.

MR. THOMPSON: Yes.

MR. RUSSERT: And you said the other day you were going to have some tests probably in October. Did you have your tests?

MR. THOMPSON: Yes. I had—I had tests in September, actually...

MR. RUSSERT: And?

MR. THOMPSON: ...as I recall.

MR. RUSSERT: The results?

MR. THOMPSON: Hundred--100 percent free and clear. Some people in the news media asked for that. I sent it to them. I didn’t make a public announcement, but I had all the tests. The doctor put out a statement I’m in good shape. And in all fairness, you know, I get a lot of conversation about this, and it’s totally legitimate. The American people have a right to know. I have a right to know, and so does my family. But, you know, I’m, I’m—there are a couple of other guys running for president, too, who’ve also had to deal...

MR. RUSSERT: John McCain, Rudy Giuliani...

MR. THOMPSON: Well, you know, I’m not looking...

MR. RUSSERT: Will you release—will you release all your health records?

MR. THOMPSON: I will release, you know, I—whatever the common practice is. I mean, I have to go back and, and, and look and see what other people have done and what’s appropriate. But, but, but this is the, the only situation, of course, that, that is in, in, in, you know, anything like cancer category in my, in my life and I’m the one who put it out. I put my doctor out there to answer all the questions, and I’ll continue, when appropriate, to, to answer any questions anybody’s got. It’s a fair, it’s, it’s a fair subject. I’m, I’m fortunate in that I, like my other colleagues on the campaign trail, I assume, I’ve got the kind that you can, you can deal with. There’s 30-something different kinds of lymphoma, and I’ve supposedly got one of the better kinds. And, you know, I fully expect to live long enough to pass away from something else. So, you know, nobody knows and, you know, the Lord has shown me that he doesn’t take people in sequence, necessarily, so you never know. But all I can do is put the facts out there, and, you know, I feel better physically than I ever have.

MR. RUSSERT: Senator Fred Thompson, we’re out of time. Thank you for joining us.

MR. THOMPSON: Thank you.

MR. RUSSERT: We hope you’ll come back and talk about some more issues in the future.

MR. THOMPSON: Appreciate it.

MR. RUSSERT: And our viewers should know we’ve an open invitation to Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Governor Mitt Romney to join us for our Meet the Candidates series any Sunday this year. Both candidates have personally promised they will appear within the next few weeks before the Iowa caucuses.

Coming next, Tom Brokaw. He told us about the greatest generation, now in his new book, “Boom!” he reflects on the voices of the ‘60s, the baby boomers. Tom Brokaw is next right here on MEET THE PRESS.

(Announcements)

MR. RUSSERT: And we are back.

Tom Brokaw, welcome back.

MR. TOM BROKAW: Good to be here.

MR. RUSSERT: A new book, “Boom! Voices of the Sixties.” Why did you write it?

MR. BROKAW: I lived through it. It was a transformational time. I was watching Fred Thompson. He was—came from a Democratic family, became a Republican in Tennessee with Howard Baker and Bill Brock and a lot of other people in the South, changed parties. The ‘60s really defined who we are now in so many ways, in our politics, the rise of women, certainly in civil rights, the culture. It all came out of that time. And so I organized, Tim, a virtual reunion of people who went through the ‘60s. Most folks think ‘60s, and they have a vision of a flower child. But it encompassed everyone from Karl Rove to Arlo Guthrie. Even Tim Russert, who was at Woodstock, it turns out, with a Fu Manchu moustache.

MR. RUSSERT: It—I mean, it is remarkable. Paul Simon, James Taylor, Gloria Steinem, John Lewis, the civil rights leader, Newt Gingrich—no matter what ideology, no matter what political party, there’s this common experience of growing up in the ‘60s.

MR. BROKAW: And still trying to work their way through it, by the way. Hillary Clinton said to me, “Have you cracked the code yet?” And I said I don’t think it’s crackable yet, but I do think that there are lessons in this book and in those experiences that will help us get through these next very challenging years that we have ahead of us.

MR. RUSSERT: You should know, I went to Woodstock in a Buffalo Bills jersey with a case of beer. That...

MR. BROKAW: I know that, and I make that clear.

CONTINUED

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