The Good and the Bad of Thomas Jefferson, born 1743 April 13th

Thomas Jefferson, was born April 13 1743, Shadwell, Virginia.  He was the architect and writer of the Declaration of Independence of the United States and the nation’s first secretary of state (1789–94) and second vice president (1797–1801) and, as the third president (1801–09), the statesman answerable for the Louisiana Purchase. An early promoter of total separation of church and state, he also was the founder and designer of the University of Virginia and would not back down as the most articulate American advocate of individual freedom as the volunteer meaning of the American Revolution.

Jefferson and his life at Monticello, were marked by monstrous duality.  There was beauty and horror; freedom and slavery; privilege and servitude, as well as peace and violence.

Thomas Jefferson could be called the librarian, the economist, the architect, the food lover, the wine snob, the agriculturalist, the paleontologist, the astronomer, the writer, and the musician. Likewise, there are those who would label him a racist. egotist, braggart, elastic, arrogant, and imperious.

Thomas Jefferson was a great man. He is perhaps more responsible than any other individual for the way America turned out, and there is no doubting his intelligence and patriotism.

THOMAS JEFFERSON BIRTHDAY PLAYLIST TOP-5:

“Volunteers” ~~ Jefferson Airplane

“I Won’t Back Down” ~~ Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

“I’m Writing A Novel” ~~ Father John Misty

“Louisiana Two-Step” ~~ Clifton Chenier

“Carry Me Back to Old Virginia” ~~ Frantic Flintstones