025 Who Was Thomas Jefferson?

In this episode, we take a close look at another Founding Father - Thomas Jefferson (Episode 23 focused on Alexander Hamilton). And why not? Jefferson was born in the month of April – April 13th to be precise – and he's Thomas Jefferson, maybe the most multi-talented of the Founders. He was part businessman, philosopher, writer, naturalist, theologian, statesman, architect, and inventor -- among other things. To help us understand Jefferson and why he still matters – despite all the Hamilton mania these days – this episode has two parts: 1) First, I provide a brief overview of the life of Thomas Jefferson. In so doing, I'll raise some of the many key questions about the 3rd President, most especially: how could the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence also own 600 slaves? And have children with one of them (Sally Hemings)? 2) Then, I'll sit down with award-winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed, co-author of the most recent major book on Jefferson, "Most Blessed of the Patriarchs": Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination. It's just been released in paperback. It's a deep and compelling examination of this most important and most enigmatic of Founders. Show page and credits: http://inthepastlane.com/episode-025/