video: abc news: see...as far back as may 1973 even president nixon knew that 2008 republican presidential nominee candidate fred thompson was 'dumb as hell'. nixon is also known for telling everyone watching laugh-in, in episode #15, "sock it to me?" and sock it to nixon 'ol dumb as hell fred thompson did too - it was thompson's dumb question about "listening devices in the oval office of the president?" to alexander butterfield on 16 july 1973 that ultimately led to president nixon's resignation.
via drudge retort
excerpt:
When Nixon's aide H.R. Haldeman told Nixon of Thompson's appointment, Nixon was less than impressed.
"Baker has appointed Fred Thompson as minority counsel," Haldeman is heard saying on one tape.
"Oh shit, that kid," Nixon responds.
"I guess so," Haldeman replies.
Nixon worried that Thompson's Democratic counterpart, Sam Dash, would outsmart Thompson.
"Well, Dash is too smart for that kid," Nixon says on another tape from March 16, 1973. The existence of the tapes were publicly revealed by a question from Thompson at a Watergate hearing and led to the president's resignation. They are preserved at the National Archives in College Park, Md.
"Sure. Runs circles around him," agrees an aide, John Dean.
As the investigation picked up speed, Nixon grew increasingly concerned about whether Thompson could stand up to the Democrats.
In this May 1973 recording, he shared his concern with then-chief of staff Alexander Haig.
"He's talking to Fred Thompson. I said you're not --," Haig begins.
"Oh shit, he's dumb as hell. Fred Thompson," Nixon interjects.
