Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power (2012)

Thomas Jefferson is one of the most important figures behind the formation of the United States and it's early history. He was also a man of contradictions: he authored the Declaration of Independence, yet he owned slaves; he never acknowledged his children with his slave Sally Hemings yet he freed those children in his will; he hated conflict but strove for power and control; he advocated for limited government but took decisive unprecedented executive action when he felt it was necessary. This book was a fascinating look at Jefferson's life and the art of power as exercised by Jefferson. Carefully researched and using Jefferson family papers this book paints a complete picture of our third President, presenting the good and the bad portions of his life and character, and placing them in the context of his time.
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An interesting read and such a difference from current leadership or what passes as leadership ( )

I slowed way down, even though I liked it. Enjoyable reading to replace the myths I learned in school with the story of a real man. ( )

The last few decades have not been kind to the reputation of Thomas Jefferson. Recent biographies of John Adams and Alexander Hamilton have extolled their subjects' virtues at Jefferson’s expense. Further, strong evidence that he probably fathered children with Sally Hemings has lent weight to public perceptions of the man's hypocrisy. Jon Meachem’s Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power offers a balanced view, one that acknowledges his subject's flaws while recognizing his greatness as a founding father and U.S. president.

Meachem’s biography is a substantive work of nearly 500 pages (not including 200 pages of notes and bibliography). While I cannot judge its accuracy, it is an extraordinarily detailed and well- documented account of Jefferson’s life, replete with endnotes for the serious reader. The image of Jefferson that emerges is that of a human being in all his complexity – a flawed giant if you will, who dreamed large and accomplished great things, as one of the founders of a nation. As a modern reader not steeped on politics of the era, I was intrigued to learn of the bitter political quarrels that divided the early nation, and the vitriol that characterized political debate. I was also interested to learn just how effective Jefferson was as a politician, despite strong opposition, weak resources, and the precarious situation the colonies and resultant nation faced. One need only remember that Jefferson doubled the size of the newly formed United States, and expanded its outlook to the Pacific, to acknowledge his stamp on the country's history.

This work is extensive as a biography, but less so as a history of the times in which Jefferson lived. Events are recounted insofar as they involved Jefferson. Thus, much of the Revolutionary War occurs off-stage, as it were, directly involving Jefferson only when he was forced to flee Monticello barely ahead of the British troops. As for the difficult issue of slavery, Meachem is no apologist, but somewhat redresses the balance of recent criticism by describing the multiple occasions in which Jefferson proposed a national ban on slavery, at risk to his own political career. The seeming contradiction between his protagonist’s public and private life is left a mystery, against which commentators are free to project their own interpretations. (As the author pointed out in a recent public lecture [quoting Arthur Schlesinger], self- righteousness is easy; it is also cheap.)

I found this a dense but informative work, from which I learned a great deal. I would certainly recommend it to any serious reader who wishes to learn more about this complex, brilliant, and accomplished man. ( )

The author covers the life and times of Jefferson. ( )