Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer Jon Meacham, “a big, grand, absorbing exploration of not just Jefferson and his role in history but also Jefferson the man, humanized as never before” (Entertainment Weekly) “Probably the best single-volume biography of Jefferson ever written.”—Gordon S. Wood A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, The Seattle Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, BookPage This magnificent biography brings vividly to life an extraordinary man and his remarkable times, giving us Thomas Jefferson the man, the politician, and the president. A Founder whose understanding of power and of human nature enabled him to move men and marshal ideas, to learn from his mistakes and to prevail, Jefferson was passionate about many things—women, his family, science, architecture, gardening, Monticello, Paris, and more. He strove, despite fierce opposition, to realize his vision: the creation, survival, and success of popular government in America. Drawing on archives in the United States, England, and France, as well as unpublished transcripts of Jefferson presidential papers, Jon Meacham shows us the personal Jefferson, a man of appetite, sensuality, and passion. He also presents Jefferson as the most successful political leader of the early republic, and perhaps in all American history, a leader who found the means to endure and to win. His story resonates today not least because he led his nation through ferocious partisanship amid economic change and external threats. Jefferson also embodies an eternal drama, the struggle of the leadership of a nation to achieve greatness in a difficult and confounding world. |
Contents
TWO What Fixed the Destinies of My Life | 16 |
THREE Roots of Revolution | 27 |
FOUR Temptations and Trials | 40 |
FIVE A World of Desire and Denial | 51 |
THE REVOLUTIONARY | 64 |
SEVEN There Is No Peace | 78 |
EIGHT The Famous Mr Jefferson | 85 |
NINE The Course of Human Events | 98 |
THIRTY Adams vs Jefferson Redux | 321 |
THIRTYONE A Desperate State of Affairs | 332 |
THIRTYTWO The New Order of Things Begins | 347 |
THIRTYTHREE A Confident President | 360 |
THIRTYFOUR Victories Scandal and a Secret Sickness | 372 |
THIRTYFIVE The Air of Enchantment | 383 |
THIRTYSIX The People Were Never More Happy | 394 |
THIRTYSEVEN A Deep Dark and Widespread Conspiracy | 415 |
TEN The Pull of Duty | 109 |
REFORMER AND GOVERNOR | 117 |
THE FRUSTRATED CONGRESSMAN | 150 |
SIXTEEN A Struggle for Respect | 161 |
A MAN OF THE WORLD 1785 TO 1789 | 176 |
NINETEEN The Philosophical World | 188 |
TWENTY His Head and His Heart | 197 |
TWENTYONE Do You Like Our New Constitution? | 205 |
TWENTYTWO A Treaty in Paris | 216 |
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED | 221 |
THE FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE | 229 |
TWENTYFOUR Mr Jefferson Is Greatly Too Democratic | 246 |
TWENTYFIVE Two Cocks in the Pit | 259 |
TWENTYSIX The End of a Stormy Tour | 271 |
THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION | 281 |
TWENTYEIGHT To the Vice Presidency | 299 |
TWENTYNINE The Reign of Witches | 311 |
THIRTYEIGHT This Damned Embargo | 425 |
THIRTYNINE A Farewell to Ultimate Power | 436 |
THE MASTER OF MONTICELLO | 443 |
FORTYONE TO Form Statesmen Legislators and Judges | 462 |
FORTYTWO The Knell of the Union | 474 |
FORTYTHREE No Doctor Nothing More | 490 |
EPILOGUE All Honor to Jefferson | 497 |
AUTHORS NOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | 507 |
16 | 518 |
40 | 528 |
85 | 561 |
ELEVEN An Agenda for Liberty | 572 |
THIRTEEN Redcoats at Monticello | 580 |
NOTES | 691 |
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS | 731 |
737 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Aaron Burr Abigail Abigail Adams American asked Britain British Burr cabinet called Callender colonies Congress Constitution daughter debt Declaration diplomat draft election enemies England Eppes fear federal Federalist France French Gallatin George Washington governor Hamilton Henry hope hour Ibid James Madison Jay Treaty Jeffer Jefferson believed Jefferson recalled Jefferson told Jefferson wrote Jeffersonian John Adams John Wayles Eppes knew letter liberty lived London Madison Hemings ment mind monarchy Monroe Monticello nation never opinion Paris party Patsy Patty Peter Jefferson Peyton Randolph Philadelphia political politician Polly President's House Republican Revolution Revolutionary Richmond Sally Hemings secretary Senate Shadwell slaves Smith things Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Randolph thought tion told Jefferson took treaty United vice president Virginia vote wanted Wayles William William Branch Giles Williamsburg wish writing wrote Jefferson Wythe York