Thomas Jefferson : the art of power Cover Image

Book

Thomas Jefferson : the art of power / Jon Meacham.

Summary:

In this biography the author draws upon archives in the United States, England, and France, as well as unpublished transcripts of Jefferson presidential papers to give readers a view of Jefferson the politician and the President, a great and complex human being forever engaged in the wars of his era. The father of the ideal of individual liberty, of the Louisiana Purchase, of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and of the settling of the West, Jefferson recognized that the genius of humanity, and the genius of the new nation, lay in the possibility of progress. Philosophers think; politicians maneuver. Jefferson's genius was that he was both and could do both, often simultaneously, catapulting him into becoming the most successful political leader of the early republic, and perhaps in all of American history.

Record details

ISBN: 9781400067664
ISBN: 1400067669
ISBN: 9780812979480
ISBN: 0812979486
Physical Description: xxix, 759 pages of plates, 24 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm
Edition: First edition.
Publisher: New York : Random House, 2012.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 691-729) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

The world's best hope -- The scion : beginnings to Spring 1774 -- The revolutionary : Spring 1774 to Summer 1776 -- Reformer and governor : late 1776 to 1782 -- The frustrated Congressman : late 1782 to mid-1784 -- A man of the world : 1785 to 1789 -- The first Secretary of State : 1789 to 1792 -- The leader of the opposition : 1793 to 1800 -- The President of the United States : 1801 to 1809 -- The master of Monticello : 1809 to the end -- All honor to Jefferson.

Prologue. World's best hope -- pt. I. Scion: beginnings to spring 1774 : A fortunate son ; What fixed the destinies of my life ; Roots of revolution ; Temptations and trials ; A world of desire and denial -- pt. II. Revolutionary: spring 1774 to summer 1776 : Like a shock of electricity ; There is no peace ; Famous Mr. Jefferson ; Course of human events ; Pull of duty -- pt. III. Reformer and governor: late 1776 to 1782 : An agenda for liberty ; A troublesome office ; Redcoats at Monticello ; To burn on through death -- pt. IV. Frustrated congressman: late 1782 to mid-1784 : Return to the arena ; A struggle for respect ; Lost cities and life counsel -- pt. V. A man of the world: 1785 to 1789 : Vaunted scene of Europe ; Philosophical world ; His head and his heart ; Do you like our new Constitution? ; A treaty in Paris -- pt. VI. First Secretary of State: 1789 to 1792 : A new post in New York ; Mr. Jefferson is greatly too democratic ; Two cocks in the pit ; End of a stormy tour -- pt. VII. Leader of the opposition: 1793 to 1800 : In wait at Monticello ; To the Vice Presidency ; Reign of witches ; Adams vs. Jefferson redux ; A desperate state of affairs -- pt. VIII. President of the United States: 1801 to 1809 : New order of things begins ; A confident president ; Victories, scandal, and a secret sickness ; Air of enchantment! ; People were never more happy ; A deep, dark, and widespread conspiracy ; This damned embargo ; A farewell to ultimate power -- pt. IX. Master of Monticello: 1809 to the end : My body, mind, and affairs ; To form statesmen, legislators and judges ; Knell of the union ; No, doctor, nothing more -- Epilogue : All honor to Jefferson.