“Jefferson is a theoretical anarchist.”
Clay and David discuss a wide range of topics on today's 1776 Club broadcast, including traveling, gardening, upcoming episodes, the eclipse, John Adams, Yuval Harari, Alexis de Tocqueville, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton.
Listen to this week's episode or learn more about the 1776 Club.
Alexis de Tocqueville: As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?
The artwork for today's episode comes from last summer's video of Clay's garden. If you missed it before, check it out below!
Further Reading
- Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville
- Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari
- Founders Online: From John Adams to Massachusetts Militia, 11 October 1798
Prompted by a listener request, we speak with President Jefferson about gardening and his love of plants. Thomas Jefferson once said, "No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, no culture comparable to that of the garden ... But though an old man, I am but a young gardener."
President Jefferson responds to questions submitted by listeners including inquiries about the rise of political parties during Jefferson’s time, Jefferson’s office space in the White House, his immediate family and how he feels about America’s fascination with the British royals.
"Nobody is entitled to a career in the Senate or a career in the House or a career in the governor's mansion, and the people who aspire to that are corrupt." — Clay S. Jenkinson portraying Thomas Jefferson
President Jefferson answers listener questions such as how representatives should react and vote when their own views differ from the constituents they represent. Another question looks at Jefferson’s relationship with John Adams.
"It's such a gift. Every day."
— Pat Brodowski
We speak with two of our favorite Jefferson Hour correspondents: Pat Brodowski, the head gardener at Monticello, and Beau Wright, a frequent contributor to the show and a city council member of Lynchburg, VA.