COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS THINK FAMILY TRAGEDY PROMPTED DECISION

Sen. Bill Frist and other acquaintances of U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson said
yesterday that Thompson has had a difficult time dealing with the death of
his daughter from what authorities call an accidental drug overdose.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Panici, 38, died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
on Jan. 30, six days after she was brought to the hospital's emergency room
unconscious. Toxicology tests ordered by Dr. Bruce Levy, the Metro medical
examiner, showed that she had six times the lethal level of hydrocodone, a
painkiller, in her blood when she arrived at the hospital.

Yesterday, Thompson released a brief statement at the Capitol that, while
not addressing his daughter's death, mentioned "other priorities" as a
factor in his decision not to seek re-election.

"I simply do not have the heart for another six-year term," Thompson, 59,
said. "Serving in the Senate has been a tremendous honor, but I feel that I
have other priorities that I need to attend to. I hope that my friends and
supporters who may be disappointed will understand."

Emily Booker of Thompson's Nashville office said last night, "The senator
would likely not have any comment" on the medical examiner's report.

Frist, R-Tenn., said that while he was aware that Thompson had been
thinking again of retiring since his daughter's death, he did not learn of
his colleague's decision until yesterday after Thompson had notified the
White House.

The death of Thompson's daughter "had an impact that was equal to or
surpassing the impact of Sept. 11 when he had a strong calling to continue
in public service," Frist said.

Other people who know Thompson said they suspected that his daughter's
death had a serious impact on his decision although he has not discussed it
with them directly.

Ron McMahan, who was an unpaid senior adviser on Thompson's two election
campaigns, said he thought it was a major factor Thompson's his decision to
leave the Senate.

"I think he had contemplated not seeking another term before Sept. 11, and
I think that his daughter's tragic death had him reflect again on whether
or not that was what he wanted to do and where he wanted to be," McMahan said.

"I talked to Howard Liebengood, his administrative assistant, earlier this
week and asked him if Fred was doing better, and he basically told me he
was having a tough time," he said.

Lewis Purcell of Lawrenceburg, who graduated with Thompson from Lawrence
County High School in 1960, said that the senator "just didn't act like
himself" when they talked at the funeral home after Panici's death.

"I don't think he thinks he can serve the people with that still on his
mind," Purcell said. "My dad always said the hardest thing a person has to
do is bury their child."

Lawrence County Executive Steve Hill said that Thompson "seemed to have
issues (early last year) about committing six more years of his life" to
the Senate.

"Then, after 9/11 (the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11), I think he felt it
was his duty. With his personal tragedies and re-evaluating his life, I'm
sure he felt he had to make this decision," Hill said. "I respect Fred's
decision and wish him well."

An investigator for the Metro medical examiner's office wrote in a Feb. 21
report on Panici's death that she "reportedly has a history of bipolar
disorder and a history of drug overdose of Ativan and Lortab." Lortab is a
brand name for hydrocodone, and Ativan is an anti-anxiety medication.

Levy said he classified Panici's death as accidental because there was no
suicide note and because people who abuse narcotics often develop a
tolerance for the drugs, which causes them to take progressively larger
amounts to achieve the desired effect.

VUMC records reflect that Panici's husband, Ronald Panici, an auto sales
manager, noticed that she was "groggy" at about 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 24 and
that she was "completely unresponsive" by 9 p.m., Levy said.

Levy said Panici was not breathing and had no pulse when she arrived at the
hospital at about 9:30 p.m. He said hospital personnel revived her but she
never regained consciousness.

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Staff writer Sheila Wissner, state correspondent Michele Tankersley and
Tennessean Washington Bureau writer Larry Bivins contributed to this report.