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PRESIDENTIAL SERIES
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12. AMERICAN SPHINX ~ CHAPTER 5 (334 - 347) and Epilogue (ALL) (04/19/10 - 04/30/10) ~ No spoilers, please
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The University of VirginiaIn 1817, Jefferson's major retirement project became the University of Virginia. It was one of his proudest achievements. Ellis states that, "Once Madison began attending the meeting of the Board of Visitors, he immediately recognized that the enterprise (of building the university) was intended to serve as a projection of Jefferson's personality. ...The scheme was pure Jefferson: magisterial in conception, admirable in intention, unworkable in practice."
The University of Virginia (also The University, Mr. Jefferson's University, or Virginia; often abbreviated as U.Va. or UVA) is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson. Conceived by 1800 and established in 1819, it is the only university in the United States to be designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, an honor it shares with nearby Monticello. The University of Virginia is one of the eight original Public Ivies. It is currently rated by U.S. News & World Report as the #2 best public university in the United States.
The University is notable in U.S. history for being the first educational institution to offer academic programs in disciplines now common, such as astronomy and philosophy. Its School of Engineering and Applied Science was the first engineering school in the United States to be part of a comprehensive university. Officially, the University of Virginia is incorporated as The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.
The early Board of Visitors was filled with former Presidents of the United States: Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Although Jefferson undertook all planning of the University, the land underneath it was once a farm belonging to Monroe. His farmhouse was located on Monroe Hill, which today is the site of one of three undergraduate residential colleges.
Student life is unique among public universities in that historical secret societies such as Seven, IMP, and Z are very active; as are two rival literary and debating societies, the Jefferson Society and Washington Society. Many students live in residential colleges such as Brown College and Hereford College. Yet some aspects of student life are more recognizable to those familiar with other universities across the nation, as there are also fraternities and sororities, and the athletic teams participate in the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference. Notably the University has had the highest African American graduation rate of all public universities in the United States for 15 years running, and in 2009 UVA topped its nearest public rival, the University of North Carolina, by 14 percentage points.
http://www.virginia.edu/
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universi...
Mr. Jefferson's University by Garry Wills"In Charlottesville, Virginia, at the University of Virginia, there is today—beneath the irregular rhythms of modern student comings and goings—a severely rhythmic expression of the Enlightenment, a philosophy concretized in brick and timber. The play of one architectural element into another is meant to express the interconnectedness of all knowledge. It is Jefferson's last but not his least achievement, and one of the three things that he put on his own tombstone to be remembered by.
In important ways, this architectural complex is a better expression of Jefferson's mind than is his home on the hill overlooking the campus. Chance had a great deal to do with the way Monticello grew up over the years. But everything in the university's structure was planned, to the last detail—a meticulous ordering that is both romantic and quixotic. It is a place of study that itself repays study, and makes on lost world of the 18th century only half lost after all."
by Garry Wills
Jefferson was in great debt just before his death. His one hope for remedying the situation was a public lottery "which was officially against the law and therefore required a waiver from the Virginia legislature. If he could get a waiver, however, and if the lottery proved successful, he had some chance of selling off a portion of his estate and retaining Monticello, along with enough land to support his heirs and some fraction of his slaves population."Eventually, "Jefferson's many friends and admirers successfully lobbied the legislature to... approve the lottery which injected a last ray of hope into his final months of life."
"Knowing that the auctioneers would claim many, if not most, of his slaves, he chose to free five members of the Hemings family: Burwell, his personal servant, immediately upon his death; John Hemings and Joe Fossett one year later; Madison and Eston Hemings, sons of Sally, who would be apprenticed to John Hemings until they were twenty one, then freed. Sally was not freed or mentioned in the will."
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Roger C. WeightmanMonticello, June 24, 1826
Monticello, June 24, 1826
Respected Sir-
The kind invitation I receive from you, on the part of the citizens of the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of American Independence, as one of the surviving signers of an instrument pregnant with our own, and the fate of the world, is most flattering to myself, and heightened by the honorable accompaniment proposed for the comfort of such a journey. It adds sensibly to the sufferings of sickness, to be deprived by it of a personal participation in the rejoicings of that day. But acquiescence is a duty, under circumstances not placed among those we are permitted to control. I should, indeed, with peculiar delight, have met and exchanged there congratulations personally with the small band, the remnant of that host of worthies, who joined with us on that day, in the bold and doubtful election we were to make for our country, between submission or the sword; and to have enjoyed with them the consolatory fact, that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made. May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.
I will ask permission here to express the pleasure with which I should have met my ancient neighbors of the city of Washington and its vicinities, with whom I passed so many years of a pleasing social intercourse; an intercourse which so much relieved the anxieties of the public cares, and left impressions so deeply engraved in my affections, as never to be forgotten. With my regret that ill health forbids me the gratification of an acceptance, be pleased to receive for yourself, and those for whom you write, the assurance of my highest respect and friendly attachments.
Th. Jefferson
Source:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/r...
July 4, 1826Requiem for an American President
The celebration of our Nation's 50th birthday was saddened this day in history by the death of our second president, John Adams. It was the eloquent Adams who had so persuasively defended Thomas Jefferson's DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE before the Continental Congress in 1776, ultimately leading to the birth of this new Nation. It may have been the last time Adams and Jefferson agreed on anything.
Jefferson's Declaration was born on June 7, 1776 when Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee laid before the Congress a resolution calling for the 13 colonies to be "free and independent states, absolved of all allegiance to the British crown." Moderates argued against the historic resolution, pointing out that the middle colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware were undecided about complete separation of the colonies from crown rule. By day's end there was little consensus, but members of the delegation appointed a five-man committee to draft a declaration of independence for consideration at the July 1st meeting.
The task of drafting the declaration should have fallen to elder statesman Benjamin Franklin, but his illness precluded a timely completion of the task. The task then should have fallen to Adams, who argued instead that Jefferson should write it. Jefferson at first attempted to defer to Adams until, in frustration, the Massachusetts delegate grudgingly stated, "You are 10 times the writer I am." Thus Jefferson prepared the draft with suggestions for revisions coming from both Franklin and Adams. The finished document was presented to the Second Continental Congress on June 28th. A poor speaker, Jefferson's written work impressed the Assembly, despite some reservations. The more eloquent Adams vigorously defended the work, which was adopted on July 2nd. That evening Adams wrote his thoughts on the new declaration to his wife, stating in part: "The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival."
Actually Adams was two days off. Editing of the document continued until it was formally approved by 12 of the 13 colonies on July 4th. (The New York delegation abstained from the vote, but approved the Declaration five days later.) On August 2nd the 53 delegates present signed the document, and the 3 absent members subsequently added their names. Among the 56 signers were both of the men most responsible for the Declaration's existence, Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
From that point forward the clashes between Adams and Jefferson were widely known. During Adam's two terms as vice president under George Washington, more than one conflict arose between him and Secretary of State Jefferson. As a Federalist, Adams found his political views quite at odds with the man who would become the leader of the rival Democratic-Republicans. When Washington left the Presidency the battle for a successor was bitterly fought between Vice President Adams and Secretary Jefferson. Adams defeated Jefferson by a 3 vote margin (71-68 electoral votes), becoming our second president. That bitter campaign was renewed in 1800 when Jefferson defeated Adams to become our third President. So intense was their rivalry that, on the day of Jefferson's inauguration Adams was carriage-bound out of the new Capitol City when the new president assumed office. (The recent death of his son in New York provided a convenient excuse not to attend the inauguration of the incoming president.)
Jefferson served two terms as President after defeating the incumbent Adams, then retired to his home in Monticello. Meanwhile from his retirement farm in Quincy, Massachusetts Adams began to write long and elaborate letters to his old adversary. A grudging admiration for each other may have developed in their later years. Nonetheless, Adams always proclaimed that, though Jefferson was 7 years younger than himself...
"I will out live Jefferson."
On his death bed on Independence Day, 1826 John Adams uttered his last words. They were "Thomas Jefferson survives."
It is rumored that upon Adam's death the messenger dispatched to carry the news to Jefferson's Virginia home actually passed a messenger dispatched from THAT site to Adam's home, also bearing sad tidings.
Just a few hours earlier Thomas Jefferson had passed away….both architects of the document that gave birth to this new Nation dead, 50 years to the day from the birth of the country they founded.
Footnote:
In 1831 James Monroe, our Nation's 5th President, also died on the 4th of July. In 1850 our 12th President, Zachary Taylor participated in July 4th activities at the Washington monument. It was a blistery day and the president became quite ill. He died five days later on July 9th.
Source:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles/...
I have to throw in a personal note here. I work at UVa and it is a great campus. The Lawn or "academic village", the area that TJ designed, is quite unique. Pavillions or larger structures for faculty and dining are connected to smaller dorm rooms. It is shaped like a big U and the anchor is the Rotunda (library). Here is TJ's drawing of the Rotunda (Library of Congress):
A nice article from UVa Magazine:
http://www.uvamagazine.org/features/a...
See it today:
http://www.virginia.edu/uvatours/grou...
I'm about to read this section and I sense Ellis will give us a realistic version of events. It is one of TJ's great accomplishments.
Ellis talks about UVa keeping to his theme as TJ as a visionary whose works do not meet reality. He builds a college in the middle of nowhere, and TJ is surprised that no one of high caliber from Europe would come teach there. Allowing the students to help run the university leads to disaster by 1825 when drunken students wreck the place. In the end, "The scheme [UVa:] was pure Jefferson: magisterial in conception, admirable in intention, unworkable in practice." (p. 281)By raising these points, I think Ellis makes an important statement that it was very difficult to build a university in middle of nowhere in a state where education outside of the aristocracy is unheard of. But isn't that the point? Would others agree that only a few people could pull it off?
Mod
Yes, it is difficult to build a university in the middle of nowhere in a state where education outside of the aristocracy is unheard of and I think like you that Jefferson wanted something better for his state, and for its young people and maybe in some small way to elevate the level of discourse.
And I would agree that only a few people could pull it off and Jefferson almost didn't. But the fact remains that in terms of history...he did do it and that in and of itself is remarkable.
I guess if you do not believe that you can do something when everybody around you thinks you can't; then of course you are beaten before you begin.
But Jefferson did not think like a beaten man and that made all of the difference. He believed that this could be done, he did it and it has thrived and become a wonderful institution with extremely high standards and very well respected. A Jefferson success story really.
However, Ellis also makes some points about the visionary aspect of Jefferson. There are two sides to this coin. Jefferson should not have been surprised that at the beginning that no one of high caliber from Europe would come and teach there. He obviously did not see the reality of the situation only the possibilities. And folks don't think about possibilities when they choose a place to settle down and teach or live. And letting the students basically take over the place is reminiscent of Lord of the Files.
I think the message that Ellis is presenting is also spot on about Jefferson. He was against monarchies, yet acted like one at times and the best part was that he tried to dress down and appear to be like the common folks when opening the door of the White House when he was President. Nobody could fault the purity of his personal intentions in his mind yet in practice he was often insensitive and politically ruthless to his opponents even to the ones who thought he was their friend. But many of his schemes and ideas were not grounded in the realities of the day and were not workable and/or could not be executed properly.
I sense that University of Virginia is successful today because of folks who followed Jefferson who were finally able to execute and make Jefferson's architectural vision of what he wanted U VA to become a reality. They were the masons of what Jefferson intended.
And I have always said for any successful enterprise, you need both the architects who dream and envision and put that mental design on paper and those who are the masons or the engineers who make it happen and build it into the reality that it was meant to be. Jefferson was not the mason is the point Ellis was making.
But he was one heck of a visionary and architect of his ideas.
William Golding
Mod
Thank you Joe for the set ups and see you in the Fall.
And now back to the last chapter (smile)
Thanks, Bentley. I look forward to TR, as well.Since we are on the topic, we should all thank Bentley. He also moved the discussions forward and had great comments to share with us.
Joe has been great to get us started, as well.
I'd also like to thank those of you who participated. Good stuff.
And now back to our original programming already in progress...
Bentley wrote: "I see both sides of the issue here Bryan. Yes, it is difficult to build a university in the middle of nowhere in a state where education outside of the aristocracy is unheard of and I think like ..."
Well said and thought out, Bentley. I will talk more about Ellis in general soon as we close out the book, but I agree that Ellis is good at pointing out that TJ's vision does not fit reality, and TJ works very hard to keep his reality intact (a possible source of his insensitivity).
You make a great point about engineers. I think it is the post-TJ leadership that made UVa the place it is today following the principles of TJ.
Mod
Since we are on the topic, we should all thank Bentley. He also moved the discussions forward and had great comments to share with us.
Joe has be..."
Thank you Bryan.
Bentley, you raised a point about engineers that started me thinking...There are a couple of big aspects of TJ that Ellis leaves out. He really only touches on religion that, I think, fits his visionary theme. For example, TJ had a certain way of looking at Jesus and he acted on that vision with the TJ Bible. Jesus is a moral teacher and not one that has supernatural gifts.
Here it is online:
http://www.angelfire.com/co/Jefferson...
The other thing is his dedication to science and architecture. Both of these topics fit and weaken Ellis' argument a little bit. They fit because they became an extension of his own vision of the country and his own life. They weaken in that these worlds he was very practical. He developed on paper and translated them very well in real life. Although, Ellis could argue that some of his architectural schemes were not that functional.
However, science is practical and as a amateur scientist, president of the American Philosophical Society, and President, he saw the importance of science and tried hard to apply it.
I wonder why he doesn't talk about them in the book?
Mod
Interesting points..I think you are right about the connections to more concrete and tangible endeavors; possibly these were things as an author that did not contribute to the enigma or Sphinx theme.
Thank you for that interesting link which I will try to peruse later and for those tidbits.
Bentley wrote: "I guess this is Jefferson's version of the first ethics course in America.Interesting points..I think you are right about the connections to more concrete and tangible endeavors; possibly these w..."
Yeah, I can appreciate that those aspects are more straightforward.
I just wanted to drop in and say that I really enjoyed this book on TJ. I probably wouldn't have read it without this club so thank you all for introducing me to something new.
Mod
Glad you enjoyed the discussion. I probably would not have read the book either without the group. Hope to see you for TR
This book won the National Book Award for 1997. Did anyone read the competition? If so, do you think the panel made the right choice?
David I. Kertzer
Jamaica Kincaid
Thomas Lynch
Sam TanenhausI have not read any of them, although I heard very good things about Tanenhaus' book.
Mod
Yeah, I was asking everyone to compare Sphinx with the other Book Finalists. Sorry if I didn't make that very clear.
Mod
I posted this because I have read some National Book Award Winners, and although I enjoyed reading it, I didn't think it is a winner caliber, I guess.I was wondering if others read the contenders and if so, if they think it was better than Sphinx.
Mod
Hi all:Some final thoughts from me as we wind this book down.
I didn't have high expectations for this book in the beginning. I never sent researchers to this book when they were doing TJ research. A portion of the Monticello staff was hostile to the book as well. I can see why now. He does do some conjuncture regarding Sally Hemings and his personal life, and he places himself on the other side of the Hemings scandal than Monticello.
I did have some problems with his conjuncture at times, but you know, looking at the overall picture, it didn't bother me to a point of giving it a fair shake. In the end, I liked this book. I think the most important aspect is that Ellis successfully gives us a complex picture of TJ, a human being. He focused on some important topics like slavery and how TJ's vision did not always fit reality, which I suspected before I opened the book. But, and I think Bentley wisely said, you need visionaries to help construct a good project or society in TJ's context. I can see why it was nominated for the National Book Award. I have not read any of the other finalists, so maybe it deserved to win. One thing, however, the award put Ellis on the map to go on to write more Founding Father books.
Feel free to convey your final thoughts as you close in on the final pages.
I read the book, but not on the Goodreads' schedule (I can't read that way). I will say that it was well worth the reading and a great antidote to the cult of "Mr. Jefferson" I found in Virginia when I lived there some 35 years ago. A recent visit to Monticello with some grandkids was also much changed from the one I had in the early 1970s. I seemed much more realisitic and not quite so worshipful of Jefferson; his dilemma about slavery and Miss Hemmings was openly discussed and the role of the skilled slaves in the actual building of the estate was emphasised. I'm looking forward to more reads like this. Good discussions on this thread, too.
Thanks for your insights John. Yeah, I think there was a real awakening on how to present TJ to the world and Ellis and Monticello illustrate this.
Bryan wrote: "Thanks for your insights John. Yeah, I think there was a real awakening on how to present TJ to the world and Ellis and Monticello illustrate this."So I have been away and could only read all the notes after returning and having finished the book I really must say the comments of Bryan and Joe and Bentley are very constructive for better understanding but Bryan's remark about a "tarnished TJ" at the end sums it up - His image is for me less pristine - a bit tarnished.
Thanks all
Mod
I have to say I was a bit let down by the revelations at first but then when you really think about it...throughout the ages it has always been the most complex of men who have huge strengths and equally huge weaknesses who have been able to motivate and execute change and inspiration in people. Whether it be a Jefferson, a Jackson, a Churchill, a Ghandi, a Thatcher, an Adams and/or a host of others...all of these men and women showed their humanity.
It is possible that many other men deserved more of our credit and admiration and some of this ardor may have been indiscriminately showered solely on Jefferson. Adams (of course) comes to mind and Jefferson's friend, Madison.
well said Bentley. I'm glad you joined us Vincent. It was an important journey, I think.
Mod
Bryan, nice summation of the importance of this read. I, too, agree that Jefferson was more complex and flawed than I had previously believed. If anything, that made him more accessible in my mind as a leader, because of that humanity.I really enjoyed this book and the excellent conversation throughout.
Thanks for joining us, Sera. I hope you pick up another presidential read in the future.
The History Book Club
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Lord of the Flies (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
David I. Kertzer (other topics)Sam Tanenhaus (other topics)
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This begins the twelfth and last week's reading in our Presidential Series group discussion. We will be finishing up this week; yet the archival section can still be accessed and you can still post to the discussion if you are catching up.
The complete table of contents is as follows:
Prologue. Jefferson Surge: America, 1992-1993 p.3
1. Philadelphia:1775-76 p.27
2. Paris: 1784-89 p.75
3. Monticello: 1794-97 p.139
4. Washington, D.C.: 1801-1804 p.200
5. Monticello: 1816-1826 p.273
Epilogue. The Future of an Illusion p.349
Appendix. A Note on the Sally Hemings Scandals p.363
The assignment for this week includes the following segments/pages:
Week Twelve - April 19th - April 30th -> 5. Monticello: 1816-1826 p.334 - 347 & Epilogue p.349 - 362 - Educational Dreams - Tragedy - Epilogue
We look forward to your participation; but remember this is a non spoiler thread.
We will open up threads for each week's reading. Please make sure to post in the particular thread dedicated to those specific chapters and page numbers to avoid spoilers.
This book was kicked off on February 1st. This will be the twelfth and last week's assignment for this book.
Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other noted on line booksellers do have copies of the book and shipment can be expedited. The book can also be obtained easily at your local library, or on your Kindle.
Thank you to those who have actively contributed on the previous Presidential Series selection. We are glad to have had you all.
~Bentley
TO ALWAYS SEE ALL WEEKS' THREADS SELECT VIEW ALL
Here also is the syllabus:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...