Born in Dadaocheng (大稻埕), Datong District, Taipei, Hsieh received his Bachelor of Laws degree from National Taiwan University and Master of Laws degree from Kyoto University. He was a practicing attorney from 1969 to 1981, serving as a defense attorney in the Kaohsiung Incident of 1980. He was a Taipei city councilman from 1981 to 1988 (two terms) and a member of the Legislative Yuan from 1989 to 1995. He ran in the Kaohsiung mayoral election in 1996, but lost, only to win in 1998. Hsieh ran in the ROC presidential election, 1996 as a vice-president candidate with Peng Ming-min on the DPP ticket. They finished second with 21.1% of the vote.
Hsieh was involved in the Democratic Progressive Party's establishment and organization in 1986, suggesting the party's name. He became the chairman of the party from June 2000 to 2002 (preceded and succeeded by Chen Shui-bian).
Hsieh hosted a TV show, Frank Asks Qingtiang (「長廷問青天」), from October 3, 1996 - June 11, 1997 on TVBS. He also hosted a radio show Frank's Set-Time Comments (「長仔之限時批」) on Greenpeace FM97.3 from June 1996 to June 1997.
Hsieh is married to Hsieh-Yu Fang-chih (謝游芳枝). Together, they have one son and one daughter.
See also: Politics of Taiwan