Listening to America

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#1437 Jefferson's Birthday Apr 06, 2021

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We wish President Thomas Jefferson a happy 278th birthday this week and discuss possible gifts for him: books and wine. Jefferson also speaks about his vision for America.

Read about Clay's upcoming online courses here: https://jeffersonhour.com/onlinecourse

Find this episode, along with recommended reading, on the blog. Support the show by joining the 1776 Club or by donating to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc. You can learn more about Clay's cultural tours and retreats at jeffersonhour.com/tours. Check out our new merch. You can find Clay's publications on our website, along with a list of his favorite books on Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, and other topics. Thomas Jefferson is interpreted by Clay S. Jenkinson.

#1436 Appointments and Disappointments Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

We speak with President Thomas Jefferson this week about his cabinet, particularly about his Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin. President Jefferson, as portrayed by humanities scholar Clay S. Jenkinson, gives credit to Mr. Gallatin for retiring the national debt during his administration, for running the federal government while Jefferson and Madison were away, and for keeping government spending in check.

In the What Would Jefferson Do segment, Jefferson recommends reading: Thomas Paine, Common Sense; Tacitus, The Histories; Montesquieu, Spirit of the Laws; The letters and orations of Cicero; John Locke, Second Treatise on Government; and The Federalist Papers.

Read about Clay's upcoming online courses here: https://jeffersonhour.com/onlinecourse

#1435 Rebellion Revisited Mar 23, 2021

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This week Clay responds to listener mail, including many comments regarding a previous show about Shays' Rebellion, and what Jefferson's reaction would be to the insurrection that occurred on January 6, 2021.

Read about Clay's upcoming online courses here: https://jeffersonhour.com/onlinecourse

#1434 Joe Mail Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

This week Clay Jenkinson, the creator of the Thomas Jefferson Hour, and the author Joseph Ellis answer questions from listeners about the make up of the Senate, British loyalists during the Revolution, and how Jefferson would fare on a citizenship test, to which Ellis says that, "The Constitution isn't a collection of truths, it's a framework in which we can argue about what the truths are."

Read about Clay's upcoming online courses here: https://jeffersonhour.com/onlinecourse

#1433 Sedition Act Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

We speak with President Thomas Jefferson this week about the Sedition Act of 1798. Jefferson points out the importance of free speech and says that "its value comes in times of crisis. We don't need to protect what is comfortable, responsible and harmonious. If we're a free society, we need to protect speech that is critical, offensive, obnoxious, that which challenges the status quo, and that which will be seen by the government in power as horrific. That's why we need the 1st Amendment."

Read about Clay's upcoming online courses here: https://jeffersonhour.com/onlinecourse

#1432 Leadership and Character Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

For this Thomas Jefferson Hour Zoom Town Hall, we're discussing presidential leadership and character. We take questions directly from attendees, including queries about presidents who can sing the song of America, as well as divisive and consequential presidents, and the fear that our elections may never be normal again.

Read about Clay's upcoming online course on Hamlet here: https://jeffersonhour.com/onlinecourse

#1431 A Little Rebellion Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

We speak with President Jefferson about an armed uprising that occurred in Massachusetts in 1787 known as Shays' Rebellion. We ask Jefferson about an often quoted letter from January of that same year in which he wrote, "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical," and that, "It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."

#1430 Argument Is the Answer Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

We are joined this week on the Thomas Jefferson Hour by the respected author Joseph Ellis in a robust discussion about the Constitution, beginning with an agreement that it is time to retire the electoral college. Ellis says that, "Argument is the answer, and the willingness to recognize the legitimacy of different sides in an argument is the crucial fuel that makes the American republic go forward."

Read about Clay's upcoming online course on Oppenheimer here: https://jeffersonhour.com/onlinecourse

Stay tuned for details about the online course on Hamlet.

#1429 I Have Some Questions Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

Clay S. Jenkinson answers listener questions and speaks about the Wall Street Journal's erroneous reporting of Jefferson's impeachment (he was not impeached), and also talks about Jefferson's literary tastes and writing. Questions presented include a request for a good biography on Abigail Adams, Jefferson's daily cold water foot baths and reliable resources for Jefferson quotations.

Join us on Thursday, the 11th for Presidential Character: A Public Zoom Forum. Learn more and find the link to join on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/3wE0xbeOC

#1428 A Few Plain Duties Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

President Jefferson speaks about the challenges he encountered during his first term as president, and offers his guiding principle that he views government as "a few plain duties" performed by a few honest men. He also offers some private advice to our new president on division and building consensus.

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