Thomas Jefferson: Flawed Diplomat

President from March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1809

What I read: 

Thomas Jefferson by Fawn M. Brodie

Age at inauguration: 57

Political Party: Democratic - Republican

Age at death: 83. Died on July 4^th, the same day as Adams.

Cause of Death: Probably a combination of issues: Modern doctors suspect he had prostate cancer because his prostate was so swollen that it caused a blockage to urination. The obstruction was treated by inserting stints into his urethra, which caused a kidney infection, intense diarrhea, and finally orthostatic old-age pneumonia. OUCH.

Health & Appearance: He stood 6’2.5” with red hair and a thin but muscular build from working on his farm. He suffered debilitating headaches from emotional trauma, as well as depression just like the first two presidents. He broke his arm and his wrist while in France, but the doctors didn't set it properly so it healed crooked and gave him trouble the rest of his life. He experienced chronic back pain from 1797 onward, as well as rheumatism/arthritis. He proactively inoculated himself and his family with small pox. He dealt with a severe case of dysentery in 1802, then a life-threatening level of constipation in 1818, which he tried to cure by taking the waters at Warm Springs. Unfortunately, that resulted in boils on his buttocks! In his old age he had significant hearing loss, likely from his love of shooting, but unlike his predecessors, he had all of his teeth. 

Honestly? This made me think maybe karma really is a bitch (keep reading and you'll likely agree).

Pre-Presidency: He authored the Declaration of Independence, though it must be remembered it was edited by Adams, Franklin, and the Continental Congress. He also wrote the Constitution of Virginia, and served in the Virginia House of Burgess. You may not know he wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which was the precursor of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Freedom of Religion, including having no religion, was very important to Jefferson, who was not a church-going man. He constructed his own version of the Gospels, removing all things mystical. You can check it out here: Jefferson Bible

By the time he was elected to the Presidency, he'd lost his wife, Martha, and four of their children (two in infancy). He promised her that he wouldn't remarry and he did not, so he was the first bachelor President.

Major accomplishments: He ended the trafficking of enslaved people to the United States, yet owned hundreds of people and only freed two--Robert and James Hemings.

After the original Library of Congress was burned by the British, Jefferson donated his own personal library, and the website is his namesake to this day.

Although a champion of small government before his Presidency, while in office he expanded the scope of the federal government more than any president before him. He commissioned the Louis and Clark expedition. The Louisiana Purchase was on his watch though he had little to do with the actual deal. He cut the size of the military believing state militias were more effective, believed states’ rights superseded federal power, battled the size of the courts which Adams had expanded, one Supreme Court justice was impeached, and another was tried but not impeached.

He was the first "foodie" President, and the exquisite meals prepared by his enslaved chef, James Hemings, helped Jefferson broker major policy discussions among post-monarchy French leaders as well as with early American political elites. His wine appreciation and cultivation has a lasting impact in the U.S., and several of the dishes that Chef James learned or adapted from French cuisine--such as mac-n-cheese and French fries--remain staples in American fare.

Are you kidding me?  Jefferson set up the system that was used by generals and presidents to manipulate First Nations people out of their land. He used yearly money allowances to cause tribes to become dependent on the Federal government. He wanted them to turn into farmers and away from hunter-gatherers, as they'd lived for hundreds of years.

Jefferson was in deep debt most of his life, yet it never stopped him from obtaining more stuff.  He was in massive debt when he died.

Jefferson was fluent in several languages. He learned French from a Scottish tutor, and as such spoke it with a Scottish accent so that French people often could not understand him. 

After the Pasha of Tripoli raised tariffs on the U.S., Jefferson sent our Navy to create a blockade and attempt a covert coup! It failed, so Thomas Jefferson has the "glory" of being the first President to try to overthrow another nation.

Jefferson vs Hamilton: This gets its own header because they disagreed so famously. Jefferson believed our economy would prosper with agriculture and thought of Hamilton as an idiot. Hamilton believed we needed to compete with England through manufacturing and building cities. If their two gigantic egos could've actually worked together, our nation would likely be in a much different place today. Unfortunately, Jefferson's ego allowed little compromise, especially not with Hamilton, who he deemed arrogant (pot calling the kettle). The only time Jefferson admitted that someone got the best of him was regarding the deal they cut which gave Hamilton the U.S. Bank and Jefferson the site of the U.S. Capitol. Although Hamilton disliked Jefferson, he hated Aaron Burr, so when Jefferson and Burr ran for the House of Representatives, Hamilton pushed his supporters to vote for Jefferson. This began the grudge that would fester until Aaron Burr, while serving as Vice President under Jefferson, killed Alexander Hamilton in their famous duel. Shockingly, Jefferson did nothing to punish him and Burr served out his term.

What I learned: Jefferson, like Washington, was a complicated man. He was a prolific reader and writer. His pen was deadly, his speeches few. I couldn't help feeling moved by the loss of his wife and four of their children.  

By all accounts, Jefferson was not a cruel slave owner but the facts remain that he was a slave owner and trader. I believe he treated the Hemings differently because they were step siblings to his wife Martha. Her father was their father--Elizabeth Hemings (mother of Chef James, Robert, Sally) was enslaved by Martha’s father. When he died, Martha inherited the enslaved Hemings family/siblings. Jefferson educated the Hemings children and grandchildren. They could all read and write (some in both English and French), and a few of them played violin and harpsichord. How many children did he father by enslaved Sally Hemings? DNA testing has been able to conclude that her children were genetically related to a "male Jefferson." Apologists believe it was his brother, but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…

Jefferson changed the world with his Declaration of Independence, yet he did little to change slavery. He wrote several times about his view that the White race held an inherent superiority of over people of color. He knew slavery would split the nation at some point, but left it to another generation to solve as he, like many of the founding fathers, believed forming the nation was more important than ending slavery.

Side note: I've done my best to portray Jefferson honestly in my screenplay, SERVING JEFFERSON: THE JAMES HEMINGS STORY, which focuses on Chef James' struggle for freedom from slavery, racial discrimination, and alcoholism. If anyone deserves his rightful place in history, it's James--his meals set the table for the birth of two modern nations! 

PRECEDED BY: John Adams

SUCCEEDED BY: James Madison