Once upon a time Jeri (Kehn) Thompson lived with a boyfriend “whose main claim to fame was getting arrested in Red Square for unfurling a pizza-parlor banner in the last days of the Cold War.” Everything, it seemed, went wrong in her life: She totalled her car, she was embattled in multiple lawsuits, and she had her wages garnished.

But then, something changed. She made some new friends, moved to DC, hosted a pricey Web chat, appeared on Bill O’Reilly, married Fred Thompson and became a Republican superstar.

Yes, just another typical Washington down-on-her-luck-gal-makes-good story.

Earlier: More on Mrs. Fred Thompson: Will She Work the Poles or Polls?