Quote Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro View Post


I just finished a biography of Washington (:the indispensable man by flexner, which was superb), and one of the things I was surprised to see was how badly jefferson appears, entirely through his own quotes. He's generally considered one of the best presidents, but he sounds rather idiotic here. Of course, I assume the author is pro-washington. So, is the general picture of jefferson as great for the DoI and Louisiana purchase just a rose tinted glasses view?
Jefferson was very human and in some ways our quintessential "founder." He had towering strengths: intellect, skill with words, sense of what could be. He had towering flaws: spendthrift (even by planter standards), political knife artist, hypocrite (opposed slavery yet did not manumit much during his life). In short, he embodied the best and the worst of us -- a very human man and a compelling figure to study.

I concur with the suggestion of McCullough's Adams. I'd add (though this is from a later period) Kearns on Lincoln.