Born to Ruth Bradley and Fletcher Thompson he attended in his childhood the public schools in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. It was the year 1959, when Thompson at the 17 years of his age got married with Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey. While pursuing higher education Thompson first attended the Florence State College folowed by the Memphis State University where he earned an undergraduate degree in the subjects of Philosophy and Political Science in 1964. he ws admitted to the State Bar of Tennessee in 1967 and initiated his career as an asistant US attorney in the year 1969 to 1972. it was at this time that he stepped into the world of politics when he became the campaign manager for Republican U.S. Senator Howard barker. It is said that Fred’s labor was one of the basic foundations on which Baker’s successful re-election happened, resulting to a close personal friendship with Baker. From 1975 to 1992 he workd as a profesional lobbyist in Washington, D.C. representing clients like Westinghouse, General Electric and the Tennessee Savings and Loan League.

In 1994, he got elected by the people of Tennessee to conclude the remaining two years of  unexpired Senate term of Al Gore. Thompson was again easily re-elected in 1996 while defeating the  Democratic attorney Houston Gordon, hailing from Covington, Tennessee. In the Senate, he served as the Chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs from 1997 to 2001. The committee became famous during his tenure while conducting investigations into allegations of China attempting to create an aura of influence on American politics prior to the 1996 elections.