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#1359 To Oxford Oct 08, 2019

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Thomas Jefferson Hour creator Clay S. Jenkinson is joined by his daughter Catherine who serves as this week's guest host. Among the many topics discussed is Catherine's upcoming trip to England where she will become a student this fall at the University of Oxford.

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 & 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 & Clark, and other topics. Thomas Jefferson is interpreted by Clay S. Jenkinson.

#1358 Robinson Crusoe Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

"It's a classic enlightenment story: a novel in the history of ideas about how civilization is created from nothing."

— Clay S. Jenkinson

We present another installment of the Jefferson Hour Book Club this week, and the selection is Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defoe and published in 1719. It is a book Thomas Jefferson had in his library and reportedly read twice.

#1357 The Dempster Highway Sep 24, 2019

Show notes

We are joined this week by David Nicandri, one of the most respected Lewis and Clark scholars in the country. His book, "River of Promise - Lewis & Clark on the Columbia" fills a significant gap in our understanding of Lewis and Clark's legendary expedition. Nicandri joins us not so much to speak of that journey, but one of his own. In a fascinating conversation, Nicandri tells us about the journey he and his son took on the Dempster Highway all the way to the arctic ocean.

#1356 Considering Exceptionalism Sep 17, 2019

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Prompted by a letter from a listener, President Thomas Jefferson shares his views on American exceptionalism and his hope that America will stand as a strong and good example for the rest of the world to follow.

#1355 Inventive Behavior Sep 10, 2019

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President Thomas Jefferson speaks to us this week about inventions and scientific discoveries of his time including some he was responsible for.

#1354 In 1969 Sep 03, 2019

Show notes

This week we speak with Thomas Jefferson briefly about Alexander von Humbolt, and then bring Jefferson closer to our time by informing him that 50 years ago America landed men on the moon, which he has a bit of trouble believing. We also discuss Woodstock with Jefferson who says he hopes that if there were indeed women in attendance that they were all properly "escorted."

#1353 Humboldt and Jefferson Aug 27, 2019

Show notes

"He was iconic in the world's idea of what a nation could possibly be, and what an enlightened leader could possibly be."

— Clay S. Jenkinson portraying Thomas Jefferson

This week features another episode in the Jefferson Hour book club. We discuss Humboldt and Jefferson: A Transatlantic Friendship of the Enlightenment by Sandra Rebok, which explores the relationship between two fascinating personalities: the Prussian explorer, scientist, and geographer Alexander von Humboldt and Thomas Jefferson. They met in the spring of 1804 for just a few days, but their correspondence went on for decades.

#1352 Clunky Adjectives Aug 20, 2019

Show notes

In this week's episode, President Thomas Jefferson answers listener questions, as does Thomas Jefferson Hour creator Clay S. Jenkinson. Subjects discussed include where the name "United States of America" comes from, the poet Phillis Wheatley and slavery in the Northwest Territory.

#1351 Eight Objects Aug 13, 2019

Show notes

Clay Jenkinson has returned from his annual Lewis and Clark trip in Montana and Idaho, and he gives us a report on the 2019 tour. Clay also offers a list of eight items Lewis and Clark would have certainly wished for on their journey, could they have had them.

#1350 Diamonds and Dunghills Aug 06, 2019

Show notes

This week, Clay takes a deeper look at Jefferson and religion. Jefferson considered the teachings of Jesus as having "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man," but he felt that the pure teachings of Jesus were inaccurately appropriated by some of the early followers of Jesus which led to a Bible that had both "diamonds" of wisdom and the "dung" of ancient political agendas.

In Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth."

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