A few months back I discovered pod casting. After sampling various genres of this free information buffet I found myself drawn in particular to history pod casts. In my exploration I stumbled upon “The Thomas Jefferson Hour.” This pod cast is refreshing and entertaining. The show basically follows an interview format with host David Swinson asking Thomas Jefferson questions about different themes such as politics and government, history, music, art or foreign affairs.
During the show Mr. Jefferson also addresses questions from fan emails. During this one hour program listeners can learn about the world of America at the time of the revolution. Listeners can also gain insight about the enlightenment ideals and philosophers that so influenced the work and writings of the third president. “The Thomas Jefferson Hour” offers more that just historical and philosophical background however; this show offers listeners a chance to actually get to know Jefferson as a man.
On the show Mr. Jefferson is played by the scholar and author Clay Jenkinson. Thorough research of Jefferson’s life, writings and biography as well as over twenty years of practice have enabled Jenkinson to fully understand Jefferson’s theories and explain them. Jenkinson also mimics Jefferson’s personality, sensibilities and patterns of speaking. To complete this thorough portrayal, however, Jenkinson is able to extrapolate Jefferson’s potential reaction to modern society. In keeping with Jefferson’s love of science and technology, Jenkinson often proclaims Jefferson’s admirations for the trappings of modern society. Jenkinson also offers advice from Jefferson for contemporary problems by finding parallels from Jefferson’s own life and presidency. For example “Mr. Jefferson” reminds American society that the proportion between the current national debt and Gross Domestic Product is essentially the same as it was following the Revolutionary War-a debt that Jefferson almost entirely paid off during his administration. Jefferson also offers insights into America’s fight with terrorism and radical Islam through his recollection of his own travails with the Barbary Pirates at the turn of the 19th Century.
Essentially Jenkinson’s knowledge of Jefferson’s life and work have enabled him to create a character that he acts out to amusing effect. Jenkinson only answers for Jefferson in matters where Jefferson’s view is known or can be inferred. Thus Jenkinson will discuss Jefferson’s view of terrorism, debt, war, constitutional questions and revolution because these issues existed during Jefferson’s own time. Jenkinson will also discuss technologies that existed to some degree during Jefferson’s life such as surveying, time keeping and engineering. For those issues about which Jenkinson cannot easily speak as Thomas Jefferson, he offers insight during the second half of the program, which is entirely out of character. Thus Jenkinson will discuss, as himself, how Jefferson might feelabout the Internet, jazz or rap music.
So what is Thomas Jefferson really like? Thomas Jefferson was the consummate aristocrat and enlightenment scholar. Jefferson was born and raised in Virginia as the son of a planter and land surveyor. The agrarian and almost feudal culture of 18th century Virginia imbued Jefferson with a strong love of nature, the earth and agriculture. In character Jenkinson frequently discusses Jefferson’s love of gardening and mentions how those who “work in the soil are the chosen people of God.” As an aristocrat from a wealthy Virginia family Jefferson is exceedingly well mannered and spoken. In life Jefferson was nearly unflappable, even though he could be an aggressive and ruthless politician. In a two-part discussion of Jefferson’s feelings toward his Nemesis, Alexander Hamilton, the writer of the Declaration of Independence is respectful and admiring of the talents of a man he absolutely loathed and whose opinions he found dangerous. Thus Jefferson has the manners, friendliness and evasiveness that many associate with polite southern society.
Jefferson was also a product of his time. Born during the apex of the Enlightenment, Jefferson lived in society whose focus shifted from religion to the pursuit of knowledge. Jefferson’s curiosity and learning encompassed almost every field. Jefferson was an author, statesman, inventor, engineer, architect, gardener, audiophile, bibliophile and wine connoisseur. In one discussion Jefferson cites his “Trinity of Heroes” as John Locke, Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton. Jefferson’s admiration for these men was based on their commitment to empiricism in their quest for truth, philosophy that led to the development of the modern scientific method. With classic Jeffersonian modesty Jenkinson readily admits that the ideas presented in the Declaration of Independence are strongly influenced by Enlightenment writings, particularly those by Locke.
I started listening the “Thomas Jefferson Hour’ a few weeks ago and I have to say, I’m hooked. I have always harbored a strong interest in the Revolutionary era and the personalities that forged the United States. As a child I held the classical views of Jefferson as essentially a genius who wrote the Declaration of Independence, bought the Louisiana Territory and built Monticello. Unfortunately, the American education system does not acquaint children with the complexities and contradictions inherent in a man who was a real human being, not a marble statue. In college I read Gore Vidal’s novel Burr, which focuses on early American history from one of its most enigmatic figures, Aaron Burr. Burr was a Republican politician who differed with the Federalist principles of Alexander Hamilton and sided with Jefferson’s own principles.
In 1800 Jefferson ran for president with Burr as his running mate. Because of the electoral system of the day, Jefferson and Burr received the same number of electoral votes and thus tied for the presidency. Burr did nothing to either win or lose the presidency, which eventually went to Jefferson. Jefferson never trusted Burr again and systematically destroyed Burr’s political career, just as he did Hamilton’s. Burr’s killing of Hamilton in a duel basically represented the ultimate triumph of Jefferson’s political supremacy. While Burr is admittedly a novel, its facts are basically correct. Jefferson was a complex man who was assumed a simple exterior. Jefferson regularly used rumor, press and political machination to make and break careers. He often lied, contradicted himself and could be downright tyrannical. Jefferson had Burr tried for treason with little to no evidence and tried to subvert the judiciary by having Judge Samuel Chase impeached because of the Federalist leanings in his decisions.
Now I do not take my history from Gore Vidal but further research confirmed much of what Vidal wrote about Jefferson. Thus I was confused, unable to reconcile the Jefferson of my youth with the conniver of Vidal’s fiction. Jenkinson, as Jefferson, is always fielding questions about Jefferson’s slaves and alleged relationship with Sally Hemmings. Jenkinson explains that Jefferson, like any historical figure, must be considered in the context of his own time. Jefferson carried many of the prejudices and observed many of the social conventions of his day. Jefferson was ambivalent about slavery, but then Jefferson was ambivalent about many things. Jenkinson’s portrayal makes me, as a listener, realize that Jefferson was not so much a hypocrite as he was an idealist and human being prone to mistakes. I highly recommend the Thomas Jefferson hour to anyone who is interested in history. Jenkinson’s portrayal is an anachronistic witch’s brew that presents one of the seminal minds of the independence movement and Enlightenment on the latest digital information medium.
