Why does everybody think Thomas Jefferson was so great?

Because in school we were taught that he was, just as we were taught that all the powerful were great. Those great explorers that went to so many interesting places were only money grubbing gold seekers and Columbus was a pedophile, while Jefferson refused to consider freeing the slaves for fear of losing his mistress. And don't forget that Custer finally received his just due, which was too long in coming!

And to think that they were all made into heroic figures for school kids...sad, ain't it?

A polymath, Jefferson achieved distinction as an horticulturist, statesman, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, author, inventor, and the founder of the University of Virginia, among other roles. President John F. Kennedy welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962, saying, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House—with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

Thomas Jefferson was the Bill Clinton of his times, highly intelligent and deeply charismatic; he is best viewed through a rose colored lens/ Yes he did achieve a lot and the Declaration is wonderfully succint - - - that said Jefferson was a spend thrift who plotted behind Washington's back and strove to unseat John Adams, doing so in 1800, setting a precedent for ousting an incumbent president. And then as President Jefferson masterminded one of the great unsung swindles of history. Having piled up debts in Paris, as did a number of his Democratic-Republicans, therefore instead of young America simply seizing the Lousianna Territory, Jefferson conned Congress into giving his French cronies millions of dollars....

That said, Jefferson was a fascinating person, not as 'holy' as his reputation might suggest, but better than many of his modern day predecessors.

Pax --------

Jefferson replaced right into a realist ... and lots too sensible and forth coming to be elected right this moment ordinarily the a techniques top wing that panders to non secular zealots ... no longer lots mainstream love the comprehensive doomsday theory, wish it works out for you As a political logician, Jefferson replaced right into a guy of the Enlightenment and knew many psychological leaders in Britain and France. He idealized the autonomous yeoman farmer as exemplar of the republican distinctive characteristic, distrusted cities and financiers, and favored states' rights and a strictly limited federal government. Jefferson supported the separation of church and state and replaced into the author of the Virginia Statute for non secular Freedom (1779, 1786). He replaced into the eponym of Jeffersonian democracy and the co-founder and chief of the Democratic-Republican social gathering, which ruled American politics for 1 / 4-century and replaced into the precursor of the well-liked-day Democratic social gathering.(wiki)

I read a book about him by Conor Cruise O'Brien. He marked him down against his darling Edmund Burke. I got the impression that on freedom, Jefferson's attitude was the classic Southern Editors:

It's well enough against a king to draw resolves and triggers,

But libatty's the kinda thing that don't agree with n*****rs.

How about you tell me what president you think is better and we can tear that one down!

It is a matter of perspective.

For the time he lived in he done a lot more for this country that I think Bush has in this day and time.

As far as his slaves were concerned look at it in the of the times he was living in not by our standers today.

I don't think that he was greater than most of our president.

Most people are just dumb shmucks who don't know enough history to know those things. Sorry, but it's the sad truth.

because he married he momma slaves and had dog style sex with them- get it on jeff!!!!!