Thompson doesn't recall abortion lobbying

updated 1:47 p.m. ET July 9, 2007

WASHINGTON - Fred Thompson says he "has no recollection" of lobbying on behalf of a family planning group.

The Los Angeles times reports that back in 1991 Thompson lobbied then President George Bush to relax a regulation that prevents federally funded clinics from offering abortion counseling.

Minutes of a 1991 meeting, cited by the Times, said Thompson had been hired to help in discussions with the president's office.

A spokesman for Thompson says it's "not unusual" for lawyers to be asked to give advice to colleagues for clients with whom they personally disagree.

But the former head of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association says she specifically remembers discussing Thompson's lobbying work with him in phone conversations and during meals at Washington restaurants.

The former senator is weighing a Republican presidential bid as a social conservative.

Picking the president — the candidates Click a name below to visit that candidate’s MSNBC page • Joe Biden                 • Sam Brownback     • Hillary Clinton          • Chris Dodd • John Edwards         • Rudy Giuliani           • Mike Gravel              • Duncan Hunter • Mike Huckabee        • Dennis Kucinich     • John McCain           • Barack Obama • Ron Paul                    • Bill Richardson      • Mitt Romney            • Tom Tancredo • Fred Thompson To subscribe to a candidate page RSS feed, click here.

MORE FROM ON THE TRAIL

On the Trail Section Front

‘Yes we did!’ Historic night in Harlem Great expectations await Michelle Obama Will Obamas get a Yankee labradoodle? Obama elected 44th president   Obama’s transformational moment   Images from a historic election night   Obama victory makes history   Images: World reacts to Obama’s victory   Barack Obama casts his vote   Slide show: America votes On the Trail Section Front   Add On the Trail headlines to your news reader: