Customer Reviews

Thomas Jefferson, Man versus Myth

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An excellent essay by a leading historian on what's true and what's false in the various historical accounts of Thomas Jefferson's life. Mayer covers a lot of ground clearly and compactly in 31 pages.

This is an excellent monograph on Thomas Jefferson,correctly pointing out that Jefferson was a proponent of a limited government sedulously protecting individual rights and not an advocate of unqualified democracy.He casts doubt on the claim that Jefferson sired the children of Sally Hemings.He doesn't,however,sugarcoat Jefferson but discusses both his strengths and weaknesses,including his mixed record on slavery.This splendid monograph covers many topics,such as his religious beliefs,his fidelity to the Constitution,and his idealism.I strongly recommend it.

Dr, David Mayer, History Professor, and member of the 13 member Scholars Commission Report effectrively exposes the media and Monticello biased hype that it was Thomas Jefferson who fathered Sally Hemings's children. The Monticello "study" is exposed along with Annette Gordon-Reeds's accusations of anyone doubting the truthfulness of Madison Hemings outrageous claims is a racist. He suggests two other excellent books, "Anatomy of a Scandal" and "Jefferson Vindicated", both available from Amazon.

May I please highly recommend all three books in order to learn of the efforts of many to "paint Thomas Jefferson in a bad light." My own long research indicates that he did NOT father any slave children.

Herb Barger
Jefferson Family Historian

Why do people continue to deny this? As a white person, I am offended by this.

It appears that David N. Mayer, Herbert Barger, and the like continue to debate a subject that is no longer debatable. Their over reliance on the testimony of only white family members and their complete dismissal of DNA evidence, and the testimony of black family members indicates their bigotry and racism.

The DNA evidence coupled with the massive circumstantial evidence is clear. Even Master historian David McCullough agrees that Thomas Jefferson very likely fathered some, if not all, of Sally's children.

Come on now, stop perpetuating lies in order to fuel your own agendas gentlemen.

The DNA test concluded that Eston Hemings was a Jefferson. The DNA eliminated the Carrs as suspects. There is no evidence that Sally had any contact at all with any other relatives of Thomas Jefferson on his father's side.

No other relative of Thomas Jefferson was at Monticello during the times of conception despite the claims to the contrary. There is no basis to conclude that anyone other than Thomas Jefferson was their father.