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Jefferson: A Great American's Life and ideas

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Padover's "Jefferson" is rarely available in its unabridged form, more's the pity, though. This insightful, exposing view into the life of history's greatest American is a profound study of the human spirit, and of our own country itself. This book is more than the story of a founding father, or some famous dead guy. Jefferson did not enjoy politics, he shunned them. It did not want to be Secretary of State, not Vice-President, and he did not want to remembered for being President. Even his tombstone bears that fact. Jefferson sent the majority of his life in attempt to escape the public and reside in quiet amongst learning and living on Monticello, his Virginian paradise. This book, written by the paramount source of knowledge conerning Jefferson, illustrates and captions the life of quite an extraordinary man

Having not read the unabridged version of this biography, I cannot compare this volume to it. But Padover was certainly an authority of the first order on the man and this volume is crammed with plenty of facts. Like Douglas Freeman's Washington, however, there are no negatives to be found in Padover's Jefferson. All the players in the story wear either a pristine white hat or a muddy black one and this can often be distracting to those who desire an unbiased account (especially of the Federalist/Republican tug of war). On the whole, however, this edition will surely be of help to those who are interested in a brisk yet detailed introduction to Jefferson.

For those who are interested more in a chronology of Jefferson's life and less a perspective of the events of his time, this book is perfect. Somewhat preachy, probably too adulatory of Jefferson, it nevertheless strikes an excellent balance between being comprehensive yet concise.

For those who see American Sphinx or Malone's multi-volume research on Jefferson as daunting, this book is a great summarization. You will know more about Jefferson from this one book than 1 out of 1,000 (or more) Americans. From here you can decide if there is are certain aspects of his life that you wish to further learn about. With the hundreds of books out there on Jefferson, it is difficult to find very good summaries of this founding father who accomplished so much.

I'll start off my review by saying this: Jefferson is a good introductory biography of Thomas Jefferson. Having said that much, what does that mean? It means that this is neither best Jefferson biography out there nor is it the worst by any means either. Yet it is a good book nonetheless.

Author Saul K. Padover makes this biography of Jefferson a nice read for the most part, though it does have some considerable flaws. It is detailed in some areas (Jefferson's early life and later life in particular). Yet the book suffers from not being very well detailed in some areas. The biggest example of this is the feuding between the Federalist and Republicans, which stands out in my mind as being a rather disappointing section. One also has to keep ion mind when this book was written because much of the more recent revelations about Jefferson are missing. In fact Sally Hemmings doesn't get a single mention as far as I can remember. Then again this is more of an introductory biography so perhaps this is not a bad thing.

It might not be the best Jefferson biography but it also far from the worst. It may lack details and be out of date in terms of more recent revelations but that doesn't mean it isn't worth being read though. In fact it still makes a good introduction for the general reader. In fact if you're looking for a good place to start and are someone who hasn't read much on Thomas Jefferson, this is the place to start.

I have read the unabridged version of this book and would agree with the review above from J. Sharp. If you are looking for an unbiased, objective view of Jefferson, you will probably want to pass on this book. Padover finds few faults in the subject and almost makes excuses for his shortcomings to the point of just being silly. There are so many contradictions, some in the same paragraph, that I started wondering what was fact and what was just Padover's opinion. It became annoying and I found myself almost disliking Jefferson because of the author. I'll have to read a more modern biography I think, from a different author, before I form my own opinion of Jefferson.

Saul K. Padover's biography on President Thomas Jefferson reaches back in time to explain Jefferson's youth and family background.
Being born to "the wealthiest and most respected squire in the county" (9) young Thomas had unique opportunities for education. Not only was he educated in classics and sciences but also in the ways of wringing a living from the frontier. Padover also displays Jefferson's early political career in Virginia's House of Burgesses and later his role in the Revolution.
Padover reveals Jefferson's private self was one of deep feeling and frustrated expression. This runs against the general understanding of Jefferson being a man with an artful mastery of words, being plain spoken yet eloquent with his words carrying more worth than expected. He was often tongue-tied with girls in his youth. After one of these instances admitting to his friend John Page that all he could manage was "a few broken sentences, uttered in great disorder" (18). His emotions were by modern standards, displayed melodramatically. However, a modern reader of his letters should bear in mind that this was the style of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries, especially among the landed gentry of Virginia. His emotions are easiest seen in the death of his wife. He had made a promise to his dying wife Martha that he would not re-marry after her passing. This instance gives a unique view of a unique man. At this time in America, especially among the wealthy a man remarried. It was usually done out of necessity to help raise children and manage a massive household. Perhaps Martha could not die knowing that another woman would share the love of her beloved, brilliant husband. Privately he mourned her death, bearing his deep sorrow and pain inside dropping his contact with the outside world for six months (58).
His inner emotions are displayed in sharp contrast to his public life. Although his feelings on public issues and figures were certainly known to the general public, as they elected him for President because of his advocacy of the common man in 1800. His ability to keep his emotions out of his public life aided his way to the Executive Mansion. His usual response to derogatory remarks printed about him in the different Federalist Papers was silence.
Once arriving in the nation's executive position he had a profound impact on the office and on the country as a whole. He brought in a cabinet of men who all had the same amount of votes as he did. They all worked together to solve the nations problems and to see to the people's needs. Jefferson also kept the Executive Mansion very casual, by the day's standards. He instituted the practice of "pele mele", where no one ranking person preceded or followed in and out of a room. This tiny matter was enough to produce a minor international scandal (145). Another incident involving Jefferson's casual standard at the President's home was when British Minister Anthony Merry arrived in gold lace and dress sword and full regalia and was received by President Jefferson in a manor that was weighed to be a "studied insult to His Majesty" (144-145).
The duration of Jefferson's two terms in office had many lasting effects. His crowing achievement was the Louisiana Purchase. He had wanted to ensure the Mississippi as being free to navigate for American farmers and businessmen and also to purchase the port of New Orleans and the surrounding territory. At the time of making the decision to take New Orleans by purchase or force Spain's holdings in America were transferred to Napoleon's French government. After negotiations with Tallyrand the Americans were shocked to come away with all of Louisiana. Shocked but pleased. The purchase included more land than all of Western Europe, more than doubling the size of the country.
Although Jefferson was a man keenly aware of his public persona, he certainly did not make policy based on his public image. After all he did not mind people knowing about his close friendship with the controversial Thomas Paine (146). Characteristically, he would not rescind his unpopular "Republican" ideals during his time as Secretary of State, beyond the point of being called a "Jacobin" (93).
Though many disliked Jefferson in his own time Mr. Padover obviously admires him. Mr. Padover lavishes Jefferson with descriptions depicting him as an "enlightened . . . cultivated gentleman who was rich and tolerant" (24). Padover has an unabashed sense of respect and admiration for the man.
Through reading Padover's interpretation of Jefferson's life I have gained a better understanding, a deeper appreciation for the man whom I now admire. Jefferson's personal standards for understanding I wish I could emulate. I also appreciate his desire for religious freedom, basing this standard freedom on the rational thought that "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg . . ." (44). However, he would say that one of his greatest accomplishments was that he made several changes and new policies without the shedding of blood. Through these examples of Jefferson's life I have come to respect him as a man and as President.

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