"I would never consider [the Constitution] to be a sacred text."
— Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by Clay S. Jenkinson
We present President Thomas Jefferson with a listener question about what the phrase "promote the general welfare," found in the Constitution, actually means.
We answer letters from Richard Tucker and Rich Nieves.
Find this episode, along with recommended reading, on the blog.
Learn about Clay's upcoming cultural tours and humanities retreats by visiting Odyssey Tours.
Support the show by joining the 1776 Club or by donating to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc.
Thomas Jefferson is interpreted by Clay S. Jenkinson.
We answer listener questions in response to episode #1277 Gerrymandering, and then turn to a discussion about an important discovery of an 1805 Lewis & Clark related map. It was found after being stored for 200 years in a French archive. The map and its background story appear in this month’s issue of We Proceeded On, published by the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.
The letters discussed are from Stephen Mishkin, Joe Lovell, Kellen DeAlba, James Kenyon, and Sidney Sjoquist.
Find this episode, along with recommended reading, on the blog.
Learn about Clay's upcoming cultural tours and humanities retreats by visiting Odyssey Tours.
Support the show by joining the 1776 Club or by donating to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc.
Thomas Jefferson is interpreted by Clay S. Jenkinson.
"History is like a picture puzzle and half of the pieces or more are missing. There is something about Jefferson that makes us want to expose contradiction."
— Clay S. Jenkinson
Our show this week revolves around a question from listener Gino Cukale about the purported relationship between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. We discuss the historical record and look to first-hand accounts in an attempt to answer this question.
Find this episode, along with recommended reading, on the blog.
Learn about Clay's upcoming cultural tours and humanities retreats by visiting Odyssey Tours.
Support the show by joining the 1776 Club or by donating to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc.
Thomas Jefferson is interpreted by Clay S. Jenkinson.
"That is one of the most fun things that I try to do, reacquaint people with the joyous flavor of the tomato that they crave."
— Craig LeHoullier
Inspired by a letter from Alison Hagan, we talk with three tomato experts: Craig LeHoullier, author of Epic Tomatoes; Harry J. Klee, Ph.D. from the University of Florida; and Pat Brodowski, Head Gardener at Monticello. They speak about the best-tasting tomatoes, how to grow them, where to get seeds, why commercial varieties have lost their flavor, and how Jefferson is connected to all this.
Find this episode, along with recommended reading, on the blog.
Learn about Clay's upcoming cultural tours and humanities retreats by visiting Odyssey Tours.
Support the show by joining the 1776 Club or by donating to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc.
Thomas Jefferson is interpreted by Clay S. Jenkinson.