Thomas Jefferson

Age:  61 years
old  Wife:  widower – 6 Childern

Political Party:
Democratic Republican

Term(s) as President:
1801-1809

Home State:  Born: April 13, 1743
in Albemarle County, Virginia

Notes:  1st
Election where the Press played a role.

1st peaceful transfer of power between to
political parties.

1st President to be Inaugurated in Washington.

-
walked to the Executive Mansion
for the Inauguration.

“We are all Federalist, we are all Republicans.”

Believed that the Federal Government had to much power.

-
Very Casual – would answer the door in house
slippers…  ran the government
the same way.

- Informal dinner parties

quiet but effective leadership style.

- did not like to address congress – he sent his State
of the Union Address in written format.

- good politician

- handled the press well

1802 – press reveled Jefferson’s
affair with Sally Hemming;  The
slave, half sister of his dead wife.
Jefferson did not respond to the
allegations.  He just let them drift
away.

Defining Moment:
The Louisiana Purchase

- didn’t know that it was constitutional

-  used the Bank
of the Untied States, which he had opposed.

- Federalist blast Jefferson’s
hypocrisy.

Re- elected in 1804 – little joy in 2nd
term.

War between England
and France – still a
problem – U.S.
to be neutral (isolationist)

U.S.
merchants traded with both sides

1807- Embargo Act – no trade with anyone.

- grew old and suffered migraine headaches by the end of 2nd
term.

**** Kept 2 bears cubs at the Executive Mansion,
that were gifts from Louis and Clark.