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AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
THOMAS
JEFFERSON
GREAT
AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
JOHN ADAMS
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
JIMMY CARTER
THOMAS JEFFERSON
JOHN F. KENNEDY
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
RONALD REAGAN
FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
HARRY S. TRUMAN
GEORGE WASHINGTON
WOODROW WILSON
GREAT
AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
THOMAS
JEFFERSON
FOREWORD BY
WALTER CRONKITE
Philadelphia
CHELSEA HOUSE PUBLISHERS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD:
WALTER CRONKITE 6
1 A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 10
2 YOUNG JEFFERSON 24
3 VIRGINIA UNITES 34
4 VIRGINIA STATE LEGISLATOR 46
5 A LEADER AT HOME AND ABROAD 56
6 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 74
candle can defy the darkness. It need not have the power of a
A great searchlight to be a welcome break from the gloom of
night. So it goes in the assessment of leadership. He who lights the
candle may not have the skill or imagination to turn the light that
flickers for a moment into a perpetual glow, but history will assign
credit to the degree it is due.
Some of our great American presidents may have had a single
moment that bridged the chasm between the ordinary and the
exceptional. Others may have assured their lofty place in our
history through the sum total of their accomplishments.
When asked who were our greatest presidents, we cannot fail to
open our list with the Founding Fathers who put together this
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FOREWORD
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FOREWORD
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FOREWORD
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1
A DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE
THE SECOND CONTINENTAL Congress opened on May 10,
1775, in Philadelphia. Many of the greatest men in the American
colonies had gathered to debate how they should deal with
the increasingly harsh policies of their king. King George III of
England, the ruler of the colonies, had passed unpopular taxes
without the colonists’ approval, increased the British military
presence in his colonies, and forced trade that was clearly unfair to
the colonists dependent on England.
Each colony had sent representatives to the Congress to help
determine the best course of action. The names of those connected
to the Congress—more than 50 men—would one day become
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A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
11
THOMAS JEFFERSON
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A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
for about a year: “During the whole time I sat with him
in Congress, I never heard him utter three Sentences
together.” Jefferson’s written words more than made up
for his silence during debates, and he helped draft A
Declaration of the Causes and Necessity for Taking Up
Arms, the bold document that Congress sent to England
in 1775 to make it clear that the colonies would not
passively accept England’s policies.
Jefferson left Philadelphia in late July 1775 and
returned to Virginia to spend time with his wife and
family. He was soon reelected to the Congress and forced
to return to Philadelphia. It was a time of fast-moving
events in the colonies. The Continental forces suffered a
humiliating defeat near Quebec, Canada, but another
branch of the army successfully forced the British army
from Boston, which they had been occupying.
British forces were soon joined by Native Americans,
who fought fiercely against the colonists. Spies were
thought to be everywhere, and neighbors who had
once socialized together found themselves on opposite
sides, some proudly calling themselves “Loyalists,”
because they were loyal to England and King George III,
while others called themselves “Patriots,” because
they rallied around the cause of greater freedom for
the colonies.
When the members of the Second Continental
Congress gathered in Philadelphia in the spring of
1776, the mood was much more somber. Despite the
dramatic events in Boston and Canada, there had not
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A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
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A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
A MIGHTY PEN
Jefferson was ultimately chosen as chairperson of the
committee. The committee’s meetings were held in
secret, and no notes of their discussions were kept. As a
result, it is not clear when or how Thomas Jefferson was
chosen to write the first draft of the document that
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
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A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
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2
YOUNG
JEFFERSON
THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS born on April 13, 1743, in a simple
farmhouse on the edge of the Virginia wilderness to Peter and Jane
Jefferson. Their home, one of only three or four farms in the
county, was known as Shadwell. Occupying only about 1,000 acres,
it was a small farm compared to the vast estates owned by some
of his neighbors. The Jeffersons—Thomas, his parents, and his
two older sisters—lived in a modest one-and-a-half story home
overlooking the sparkling Rivanna River.
Thomas Jefferson’s earliest memory would be of a journey
made when he was two years old—a 50-mile ride over rutted
roads from his family’s home at Shadwell to a larger plantation in
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YOUNG JEFFERSON
Thomas Jefferson was born and lived most of his life in Virginia. His father,
Peter, named on this map, worked as a surveyor for a time. He taught
Thomas some surveying skills, which Thomas would later use when deciding
where to build his estate, Monticello, and how to landscape his property.
the east, near Richmond. His father’s best friend had died
and in his will had named Peter as executor of his estate
and guardian of his two children. The Jeffersons spent the
next seven years at the estate known as Tuckahoe. Peter
spent much of that time working as a surveyor. He was
well paid for his dangerous journeys into the wilderness,
and he taught Thomas some of his surveying skills, as
well as taking him hiking, swimming, horseback riding,
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
A CLASSICAL EDUCATION
Thomas Jefferson spent two years studying and living
with another tutor. When he reached age 16, he took
the next step that young, upper-class Virginia gentlemen
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YOUNG JEFFERSON
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YOUNG JEFFERSON
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
Thomas Jefferson learned about the law from George Wythe, who lived in
this house near the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia. Wythe was
considered one of Virginia’s best legal minds, and he required hard work and
diligence from those he taught.
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3
VIRGINIA
UNITES
WHEN THOMAS JEFFERSON took his seat in the House of
Burgesses, the colony of Virginia and all of the American
colonies were experiencing a gradual change in the tone of their
relationship with England. In 1763, the seven-year-long conflict
known in America as the French and Indian War had finally
ended. The conflict had been fought between English and
French forces over the rights to territory in America, and the
fighting had spread to Europe, where it was called the Seven
Years’ War. When the conflict ended, Britain was faced with
crushing debt, the cost of fighting on so many fronts for so
many years.
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VIRGINIA UNITES
This drawing celebrates the repeal of the Stamp Act, an issue that Jefferson
encountered during his time in Virginia’s House of Burgesses. The 1765
passage of the Stamp Act, which taxed most items made of paper by
requiring them to have an official stamp, caused much debate and fueled
the colonies’ desire for independence. The Stamp Act was repealed in 1769.
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTS
Governor Botetourt called for new elections in September,
and all members of the House of Burgesses who had
supported the boycott on British goods were reelected. In
fact, the only ones who were not reelected were those who
had not supported the boycott.
At the House’s opening session, Governor Botetourt
announced that Britain did not wish to heavily tax its
American subjects and that Parliament would soon be
lifting the taxes on paper, paint, and glass. One important
item was omitted from the list: tea.
Jefferson felt that the tax on tea was every bit as
unjust as the Townshend Acts had been. In June 1770, he
signed another document with other Virginia burgesses
and merchants promising to continue his boycott of
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
SPARKS OF PROTEST
Jefferson’s first daughter was born in late September
of 1772. She was named Martha, but the family called
her Patsy. Less than two years after Patsy’s birth, in
April of 1774, another daughter, named Jane Randolph,
was born. It was a happy time for Jefferson. The plans
for Monticello were becoming reality, and his family
was growing.
The happy times would not last. Jane Randolph would
die after living only 18 months. Things in the colonies
were becoming difficult as well: British authorities
announced a new law closing the port of Boston on
June 1, 1774, as punishment for the Massachusetts Bay
Colony’s continuous acts of rebellion, including dumping
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VIRGINIA UNITES
The Boston Tea Party was an act of rebellion against the Townshend Acts,
which taxed paper, paint, glass, and tea. Colonists dressed as Indians
boarded British ships and dumped the cargo, 50 tons of tea, into Boston
Harbor. The British government responded by closing the harbor. Colonial
leaders, including Thomas Jefferson, were angered by the British actions.
This incident also fueled the desire for independence.
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
Patrick Henry is depicted here uttering his famous phrase, “Give me liberty
or give me death.” Henry, another delegate from Virginia at the Continental
Conventions, was one of the most radical and most vocal leaders of the
independence movement. Thomas Jefferson first became involved in the
movement after hearing Henry speak, and Jefferson sent his ideas about the
colonies to Virginia delegates Henry and Peyton Randolph, who communicated
Jefferson’s thoughts to the convention.
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VIRGINIA UNITES
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4
VIRGINIA STATE
LEGISLATOR
DESPITE THE IMPORTANCE the Declaration of Independence
would play in shaping the United States, Jefferson—like the
majority of his fellow delegates—felt the greatest loyalty to his
home colony. There was at that time no sense of a single, unified
government; instead, the members of the Continental Congress
had gathered in Philadelphia to form a unified front against
Britain. Jefferson considered himself a Virginian, not an
“American,” and after the delegates voted for independence
and war became increasingly likely, Jefferson wanted to be
where he believed the most important action was taking
place: Williamsburg.
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VIRGINIA STATE LEGISLATOR
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VIRGINIA STATE LEGISLATOR
GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA
Jefferson’s responsibilities extended beyond his work as a
legislator. He was the head of Albemarle County’s militia—
although he played little direct role in military action—and
also served as a justice of the peace. He continued to
oversee planning and planting at Monticello.
Family matters also occupied Jefferson. On May 28,
1777, Jefferson was at Monticello when his only son was
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
born. Sadly, the infant lived for only three weeks. A little
more than a year later, on August 1, 1778, a daughter was
born. She was given the name Mary and eventually the
nickname Polly.
On June 1, 1779, 36-year-old Jefferson was elected to
serve as the governor of Virginia. Jefferson accepted the
appointment with some hesitation. His experience had
been in the legislative branch, not the executive, and in
any event, the powers of Virginia’s governor had been
created with real limitations. The governor was elected
by the Assembly to serve a one-year term. He could serve
no more than three years, or three terms. The real power
lay with the Assembly; the governor could really only
make recommendations, reports, and discussions.
Governor Jefferson came into office at a time of crisis.
Virginia’s military lacked vital equipment and supplies,
and the commonwealth lacked the money to pay for
them. Virginia was also under attack. One month before
Jefferson became governor, British forces had attacked at
Hampton Roads. Almost 2,000 British soldiers poured into
the Portsmouth region, burning towns and destroying
tobacco crops and supplies. The Virginia militia was little
match for the well-trained British forces.
Jefferson struggled to obtain supplies for Virginia’s
militia, writing frequently to General George Washington
to keep him posted on the results of battles and the
progress of the invading force. He also persuaded the
Assembly to relocate Virginia’s capital from Williamsburg
to Richmond — a location that would be closer to the
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VIRGINIA STATE LEGISLATOR
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VIRGINIA STATE LEGISLATOR
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5
A LEADER AT
HOME AND ABROAD
IN NOVEMBER OF 1782, Congress again asked Jefferson to travel
to Paris to negotiate a peace treaty with the British. Jefferson felt ready
to leave the sad memories Monticello held, and he agreed to join
Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, who were already in Europe.
In December, Jefferson left for Philadelphia, where he was
scheduled to board a ship for France. The boat, however, was
trapped in ice outside Baltimore. Jefferson waited for several
weeks for the boat to be freed before learning that his trip was
no longer necessary. A peace treaty between the British and
Americans was signed in Paris on February 3, 1783, officially
ending the Revolutionary War.
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A LEADER AT HOME AND ABROAD
SECRETARY OF STATE
Jefferson traveled home, where Washington’s letter
formally asking him to accept the position waited.
Jefferson was astonished by how Virginia had changed
during his years away and equally surprised at the
enthusiastic crowds that greeted him as he traveled
toward Monticello. Some urged him to accept the national
position; others urged him to consider serving in Virginia’s
assembly again.
Jefferson considered his options for two months,
waiting until only a few weeks before Washington’s
inauguration before finally agreeing to become a part
of the first president’s cabinet. On March 1, 1790, he
traveled to the national capital, New York City, to take
his new position. He had delayed his trip until after
Patsy’s wedding — the plan to guide her away from a life
in the convent had worked quite well!
Jefferson was familiar with the other members of
Washington’s government. Alexander Hamilton was the
new secretary of treasury, Henry Knox was the secretary
of war, Edmund Randolph (Jefferson’s cousin) was the
attorney general, and John Adams had been elected vice
president. Jefferson had worked with all of them before
and thought that they would work well together to help
shape the new nation.
Washington, though, was not one to delegate. He
expected all issues of importance to be brought to him for
final approval, running the nation as he had his army.
The cabinet functioned more like Washington’s assistants,
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THOMAS JEFFERSON
George Washington was the unanimous choice for the first president of the
United States. He asked Thomas Jefferson to join his cabinet as the first
secretary of state. Jefferson considered turning down the position to serve in
the Virginia legislature again, but ultimately decided to accept Washington’s
offer. Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789, but Jefferson did not
take his position until March of 1790.
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A LEADER AT HOME AND ABROAD
TEMPORARY RETIREMENT
Jefferson remained at Monticello for the next three years,
focusing on his home while keeping informed about
political developments from a distance. He created a system
of crop rotation to restore some of the fertility to his
farmlands, and he planted peach trees. He was interested
in making his farm more modern and economical and
devised new farm tools, including an improved plow and
a new, compact, horse-powered threshing machine.
He also focused on improving his house, taking apart
much of Monticello and then rebuilding it in a way that
would double its size. He designed a new rotunda for the
top of the mansion and added small private staircases.
Despite his claims to be enjoying his retirement and
his comment to George Washington in 1794, “I cherish
tranquility too much to suffer political things to enter my
mind at all,” Jefferson remained very much involved in
political discussions. A friend and fellow Republican,
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6
PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES
SHORTLY BEFORE NOON on March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson
left his boardinghouse and began walking toward the Capitol.
Congressmen escorted him as he made his way through the muddy
streets. Jefferson wanted to underline the difference between his
inauguration and those of Washington and Adams. He wore a
simple suit and walked rather than riding in a fancy horse-drawn
carriage. He was the first president to be inaugurated in the still-
unfinished Capitol, and he wanted his inauguration to celebrate a
new era in American politics.
The Capitol was an appropriate site for Jefferson’s inauguration.
It was Jefferson who had insisted that the building be built on a
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PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
HOME AT LAST
Thomas Jefferson returned to Monticello at age 65. His
daughter Patsy lived only a few miles from Monticello, and
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PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The British captured Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812 and burned
much of the city, including the Congressional library. Jefferson, who also
founded the University of Virginia, believed strongly in the importance of
education and offered to sell his personal library of about 6,700 books to the
government, thus beginning the Library of Congress.
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PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
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THE
PRESIDENT
OF THE
S
UNITED STATES
George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe
1789–1797 1797–1801 1801–1809 1809–1817 1817–1825
John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren William Henry John Tyler
1825–1829 1829–1837 1837–1841 Harrison 1841–1845
1841
James Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Filmore Franklin Pierce James Buchanan
1845–1849 1849–1850 1850–1853 1853–1857 1857–1861
Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson Ulysses S. Grant Rutherford B. Hayes James Garfield
1861–1865 1865–1869 1869–1877 1877–1881 1881
86
Chester Arthur Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland William McKinley
1881–1885 1885–1889 1889–1893 1893-1897 1897–1901
Theodore Roosevelt William H. Taft Woodrow Wilson Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge
1901–1909 1909–1913 1913–1921 1921–1923 1923–1929
Herbert Hoover Franklin D. Roo- Harry S. Truman Dwight Eisenhower John F. Kennedy
1929–1933 sevelt 1933–1945 1945–1953 1953–1961 1961–1963
Lyndon Johnson Richard Nixon Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan
1963–1969 1969–1974 1974–1977 1977–1981 1981–1989
87
PRESIDENTIAL FACT FILE
THE CONSTITUTION
Article II of the Constitution of the United States outlines several require-
ments for the president of the United States, including:
W Age: The president must be at least 35 years old.
W Citizenship: The president must be a U.S. citizen.
W Residency: The president must have lived in the United States for
at least 14 years.
W Oath of Office: On his inauguration, the president takes this oath:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute
the office of President of the United States, and will to the best
of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of
the United States.”
W Term: A presidential term lasts four years.
PRESIDENTIAL POWERS
The president has many distinct powers as outlined in and interpreted
from the Constitution. The president:
W Submits many proposals to Congress for regulatory, social, and
economic reforms.
W Appoints federal judges with the Senate’s approval.
W Prepares treaties with foreign nations to be approved by the
Senate.
W Can veto laws passed by Congress.
W Acts as commander in chief of the military to oversee military
strategy and actions.
W Appoints members of the cabinet and many other agencies and
administrations with the Senate’s approval.
W Can declare martial law (control of local governments within
the country) in times of national crisis.
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PRESIDENTIAL FACT FILE
TRADITION
Many parts of the presidency developed out of tradition. The traditions
listed below are but a few that are associated with the U.S. presidency.
W After taking his oath of office, George Washington added,
“So help me God.” Numerous presidents since Washington
have also added this phrase to their oath.
W Originally, the Constitution limited the term of the presidency
to four years, but did not limit the number of terms a president
could serve. Presidents, following the precedent set by George
Washington, traditionally served only two terms. After Franklin
Roosevelt was elected to four terms, however, Congress
amended the Constitution to restrict presidents to only two.
W James Monroe was the first president to have his inauguration
outside the Capitol. From his inauguration in 1817 to Jimmy
Carter’s inauguration in 1977, it was held on the Capitol’s east
portico. Ronald Reagan broke from this tradition in 1981 when
he was inaugurated on the west portico to face his home state,
California. Since 1981, all presidential inaugurations have been
held on the west portico of the Capitol.
W Not all presidential traditions
are serious, however. One of
the more fun activities con-
nected with the presidency
began when President William
Howard Taft ceremoniously
threw out the first pitch of the
new baseball season in 1910.
Presidents since Taft have carried on this tradition, including
Woodrow Wilson, who is pictured here as he throws the first pitch
of the 1916 season. In more recent years, the president has also
opened the All-Star and World Series games.
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PRESIDENTIAL FACT FILE
THE WHITE HOUSE
Although George Washington
was involved with the planning of
the White House, he never lived
there. It has been, however, the
official residence of every presi-
dent beginning with John Adams,
the second U.S. president. The
building was completed approximately in 1800, although it has undergone
several renovations since then. It was the first public building constructed
in Washington, D.C. The White House has 132 rooms, several of which are
open to the public. Private rooms include those for administration and
the president’s personal residence. For an online tour of the White House
and other interesting facts, visit the official White House website,
http://www.whitehouse.gov.
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PRESIDENT JEFFERSON IN PROFILE
PERSONAL
Name: Thomas Jefferson
Birth date: April 13, 1743
Birth place: Shadwell, Virginia
Father: Peter Jefferson
Mother: Jane Randolph Jefferson
Wife: Martha Wayles Skelton
Children: Martha Washington Jefferson, Jane Randolph Jefferson, son
(died as an infant), Mary Jefferson, Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson,
and Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson.
Death date: July 4, 1826
Death place: Monticello, his home near Charlottesville, Virginia
POLITICAL
Years in office: 1801–1809
Vice president: Aaron Burr (1801–1805); George Clinton
(1805–1809)
Occupations before presidency: Lawyer, planter, delegate, foreign
minister, governor, secretary of state, vice president
Political party: Democratic-Republican
Major achievements of presidency: Louisiana Purchase, Lewis & Clark
expedition
Nickname: Sage of Monticello, Man of the People
Tributes:
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
(Washington, D.C.; http://www.nps.gov/thje/);
Monticello: The Home of Thomas Jefferson
(Charlottesville, Va.; http://www.monticello.org/)
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CHRONOLOGY
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
WEBSITES
Miller Center for Public Affairs
http://www.americanpresident.org
Monticello: The Home of Thomas Jefferson
http://www.monticello.org
University of Virginia
http://www.virginia.edu/Jefferson
The White House: The Presidents of the United States
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ history/presidents/
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FURTHER READING
WEBSITES
The College of William and Mary: Thomas Jefferson
http://www.wm.edu/about/jefferson/
Grolier Online: The American Presidency
http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/
Miller Center for Public Affairs
http://www.americanpresident.org
Museum of Westward Expansion: Thomas Jefferson
and the Louisiana Purchase
http://www.nps.gov/jeff/mowe-thomas.htm
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA):
The Declaration of Independence.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/
declaration/declaration.html
University of Virginia
http://www.virginia.edu/
The White House: The Presidents of the United States
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/
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INDEX
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INDEX
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INDEX
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INDEX
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INDEX
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PICTURE CREDITS
page:
11: Courtesy of the Library of Congress, 53: Courtesy of the Library of Congress,
LC-USZ62-1217 LC-USZC2-3052
18: Courtesy of the Library of Congress, 57: © Associated Press, AP
LC-USZ62-17878 62: Courtesy of the Library of Congress,
22: Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-8308
LC-USA7-34630 66: Courtesy of the Library of Congress,
25: Courtesy of the Library of Congress LC-USZ62-100719
Geography & Map Division, G3880 69: Courtesy of the Library of Congress,
1755.F72 Vault LC-USZ62-13002 DLC
30: © David Muench/CORBIS 75: © Bettmann/CORBIS
35: Courtesy of the Library of Congress, 78: Courtesy of the Library of Congress,
LC-USZ62-1505 LC-USZ62-2089
41: © Hulton/Archive, by Getty Images 83: Courtesy of the Library of Congress,
44: Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-1939
LC-USZC2-2452 86-87: Courtesy Library of Congress,
47: Courtesy of the Library of Congress, “Portraits of the Presidents and First
LC-USZ62-1434 Ladies” American Memory Collection
Cover: © Associated Press, AP
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS
Walter Cronkite has covered virtually every major news event during
his more than 60 years in journalism, during which he earned a
reputation for being “the most trusted man in America.” He began
his career as a reporter for the United Press during World War II,
taking part in the beachhead assaults of Normandy and covering the
Nuremberg trials. He then joined CBS News in Washington, D.C.,
where he was the news anchor for political convention and election
coverage from 1952 to 1980. CBS debuted its first half-hour
weeknight news program with Mr. Cronkite’s interview of President
John F. Kennedy in 1963. Mr. Cronkite was inducted into the
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1985 and has written
several books. He lives in New York City with his wife of 59 years.
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