Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809 and previously the second Vice President of the United States from 1797 to 1801.
According to Ellie Bartlet, Jefferson once said, "We must not be afraid to follow the truth wherever it may lead."[1]
In his inauguration speech, Jefferson said "Peace, commerce, honest friendship with all nations and entangling alliances with none." He swore the oath of office on the Jefferson Bible, which may or may not warp.[2]
Charlie Young once said, possibly in jest, that his great-great grandfather may have been Thomas Jefferson.[3] This is an allusion to Jefferson's illegitimate children with enslaved woman Sally Hemings. These children have numerous descendants living today.
His friendship with John Adams turned to bitter rivalry when they found themselves in different political parties, but they eventually reconciled. Jefferson died a few hours before Adams on Independence Day, 1826; unaware, Adams's last words were "Thomas Jefferson survives."[4]
Trivia[]
- At age 33, Jefferson famously wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Notes and references[]
| Presidents of the United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Washington 〉J. Adams 〉Jefferson 〉Madison 〉J.Q. Adams 〉Jackson 〉W. Harrison 〉Polk 〉Pierce 〉Buchanan 〉Lincoln 〉A. Johnson 〉Grant 〉Hayes 〉B. Harrison 〉McKinley 〉T. Roosevelt 〉Taft 〉Wilson 〉Harding 〉Coolidge 〉Hoover 〉F. Roosevelt 〉Truman 〉Eisenhower 〉Kennedy 〉L. Johnson 〉Nixon 〉Newman 〉Lassiter 〉Bartlet (Walken) • Santos See Also: Monroe — Ford • Carter • Reagan • G.H.W. Bush • Clinton • G.W. Bush | ||