Architecture

#1342 Dressing Down

#1342 Dressing Down

"He was drest, or rather undrest, with an old brown coat, red waistcoat, old corduroy small clothes, much soiled-woolen hose-and slippers without heels."

— William Plumer, 1802

This week we talk about Thomas Jefferson’s talent for political theater, and the ways he used this talent to reinforce the public perception of his firm beliefs in republicanism and guard against what he saw as a threat of monarchy in the young nation.

#1337 The Vaunted Scene

#1337 The Vaunted Scene

“Behold me at length on the vaunted scene of Europe! […] I find the general fate of humanity here, most deplorable. The truth of Voltaire's observation, offers itself perpetually, that every man here must be either the hammer or the anvil.”

— Thomas Jefferson, 1785

We speak with President Jefferson about his time spent in France.

#1242 Inside the White House

#1242 Inside the White House

"You can object to anybody's politics, but I firmly believe that you can't object to President Obama's character."

— Beau Wright

President Thomas Jefferson speaks about the White House — during his time and ours — with this week's special guest, Beau Wright. Wright spent over five years serving in the White House, nearly two years of that time as Senior Deputy Director of White House Operations and Director for Finance.

Beau Wright is currently Director of Operations for United to Protect Democracy.

#1232 Listener Questions

#1232 Listener Questions

This week, we discuss listener questions about architecture, Sally Hemings, revolutionary war, Jefferson as a scientist, recommended books and how Clay's life has been affected by performing as Thomas Jefferson.

"What I discovered was that Jefferson embodies — in many respects, not in all of them — the world that I want to live in. I want to live in Thomas Jefferson's America." — Clay

The Lives of Enslaved People at Monticello: An Interview With Niya Bates

The Lives of Enslaved People at Monticello: An Interview With Niya Bates

"You can't understand Jefferson without understanding slavery; you can't understand the paradox of his life and the words that he wrote in the Declaration of Independence without understanding this historical connection with Sally Hemings and with the enslaved people in general at Monticello."

— Niya Bates

Forward Movement

Forward Movement

"It's going to be an interesting year, let's put it that way. My goal is the same always: I want the Jefferson Hour to proliferate because I believe that Jefferson is the answer."

#1185 Doctor Beltramini

#1185 Doctor Beltramini

We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Bruce Pitts this week, who joins us to report about his recent trip to the Palladio Museum in Vicenza, Italy. He interviewed the director of the museum, Doctor Beltramini, about connections between Thomas Jefferson and Andrea Palladio and how Jefferson was influenced by Palladio in his own architectural work. Palladio is widely considered to be the most influential individual in the history of architecture.

#1166 Jefferson 104

This week, Thomas Jefferson Hour creator Clay S. Jenkinson presents part four in a series of biographical shows about the life of Thomas Jefferson. This week's episode is about Jefferson the builder, in which we discuss Jefferson's passion, or as he put it: "Architecture is my delight, and putting up and pulling down, one of my favorite amusements."

Download today's episode.


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