Listening to America

Join us for a conversation with Joseph J. Ellis, an American historian whose work focuses on the founders of the United States of America. His books include American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson and Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams . Ellis speaks about how important presidential leadership is during times of crisis. Find this episode, along with recommended read...

"The Yellow Fever was the first epidemic after America became America." — Stephen Fried We are joined this week by Stephen Fried, the award-winning journalist and best-selling author who teaches at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. We discuss his biography of Doctor Benjamin Rush and his more recent article, "Yellow Fever Stalks the Founders," published in spring 2020 issue o...

This week in the second of a two part program we hear from Jefferson Hour listeners from around the country about how the coronavirus is affecting them and their communities. Included are reports from authors Joseph Ellis and David Nicandri, Jefferson Hour contributors Beau Wright, Russ Eagle and Rick Kennerly along with the perspectives of a 5th grader from Oregon and a University student from Io...

This week in the first of a two part program we hear from Jefferson Hour listeners from around the country about how the coronavirus is affecting them and their communities. Included are reports from Clay's daughter Catherine who finds herself somewhat stranded in Britain and Pat Brodowski, the head gardener at Monticello. Ask President Jefferson a question! You can send your written questions at...

On February 25, 2020, Clay Jenkinson appeared before a sold out crowd at the TCC Roper Performing Arts Center in Norfolk, Virginia for his new performance, "Talking out of Tights," an evening of humor and storytelling in which Jenkinson reflects on the comedic side of a life performing as Thomas Jefferson – the surprising encounters, the wigs, the arrests (!) – all for the love of the humanities....

We discuss the Philadelphia Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793. Philadelphia's population at that time was approximately 50,000, and before it was over 1 in 10 died from the outbreak despite the best efforts of physicians of the time. Ask President Jefferson a question! You can send your written questions at jeffersonhour.com/ask or by calling in to the TJH Hotline: (701) 575-0727 Find this episode, al...

President Jefferson responds to questions submitted by listeners including inquiries about the rise of political parties during Jefferson's time, Jefferson's office space in the White House, his immediate family and how he feels about America's fascination with the British royals. Ask President Jefferson a question! You can send your written questions at jeffersonhour.com/ask or by calling in to t...

"I candidly confess that I have ever looked on Cuba as the most interesting addition which could ever be made to our system of states." — Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, October 24, 1823 Clay Jenkinson returns from his recent cultural tour to Cuba. He gives an in-depth report on the country, its history and people, and Thomas Jefferson's thoughts on Cuba. Ask President Jefferson a question! You...

"Nobody is entitled to a career in the Senate or a career in the House or a career in the governor's mansion, and the people who aspire to that are corrupt." — Clay S. Jenkinson portraying Thomas Jefferson President Jefferson answers listener questions such as how representatives should react and vote when their own views differ from the constituents they represent. Another question looks at Jeffe...

Prompted by a listener's request to spend more time talking to Mister Jefferson, we devote this episode to presenting questions to Jefferson, such as whether it's necessary for congress to approve military actions, and if the founding fathers could have anticipated the formation of political parties and would they have designed things differently had they known. Ask President Jefferson a question!...

We're joined by Char Miller to discuss a new book, Theodore Roosevelt, Naturalist in the Arena . The book is a collection of noted essays by Roosevelt scholars and was edited by Miller and Clay Jenkinson. Char Miller is W. M. Keck Professor of Environmental Analysis and History at Pomona College. Ask President Jefferson a question! You can send your written questions at jeffersonhour.com/ask or by...

We are joined this week by one of our favorite guests, Professor Joseph Ellis. Ellis is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and American historian whose work focuses primarily on the times of the American founders. Highly recommended are his books, American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, which won a National Book Award and Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation which won the 2001...

This week, we answer questions about Meriwether Lewis and the conspiracy theories attached to his death, along with discussion about Clay Jenkinson's annual Lewis and Clark trip. Later in the show we are joined by guest host Catherine Jenkinson who shares her side of the story and her thoughts about living in England. Ask President Jefferson a question! You can send your written questions at jeffe...

We have added a call in line at jeffersonhour.com/ask  for listeners to leave questions they would like answered, and this week on the Thomas Jefferson Hour we listen to our listeners. Five questions are answered, including thoughts on Jefferson and slavery, Jefferson and John Adams, appointments of judges and the nature of historiography. We also get to hear Clay's impersonation of how Jefferson...

This week, we speak with President Jefferson about the separation of powers: the division of the legislative, executive, and judicial powers enumerated in our Constitution. Jefferson explains the responsibilities of these separate and independent bodies, and how they can limit excesses in government. Find this episode, along with recommended reading,  on the blog . Support the show by joining the ...

This week's guest host Catherine Jenkinson speaks with President Jefferson about incarceration policies in early and present day America. Jefferson was a reformist, and revised the entire law code of Virginia. Jefferson was enamored with the work of Cesare Beccaria. Find this episode, along with recommended reading,  on the blog . Support the show by joining the  1776 Club  or by  donating  to the...

This week, we welcome back Catherine Jenkinson as guest host. She and Clay Jenkinson discuss the celebrations of the new year and how the calendar has changed over the course of several millennia. They also discuss new year's resolutions, and the ways celebrations have changed since Jefferson's time. Find this episode, along with recommended reading,  on the blog . Support the show by joining the ...

We speak with President Thomas Jefferson about the impeachments that took place during his presidency. There were two impeachments of federal judges, Thomas Pickering and Samuel Chase. In the out-of-character segment, Jenkinson shares the story of Aaron Burr, who had recently killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel, presiding over the trial of Chase. Find this episode, along with recommended reading, ...

"That's the point of a constitutional revision: to clarify." — Clay S. Jenkinson portraying Thomas Jefferson Find this episode, along with recommended reading,  on the blog . Support the show by joining the  1776 Club  or by  donating  to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc. You can learn more about Clay's cultural tours & retreats at  jeffersonhour.com/tours . Check out our  new merch . You can find C...

"I take absolutely no joy in any of this. This is a national catastrophe, a tragedy." — Clay S. Jenkinson On December 4, 2019, four constitutional scholars gathered to testify before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in public hearings. This week in an out of character program we listen to selected portions of that testimony. Clay Jenkinson responds and provides his unique insight. He notes how o...

"What's the use of a newborn baby?" Benjamin Franklin was considered "the grand old man" of the American Revolution, and when questioned about what the men of the Constitutional Convention had delivered, he answered, "A republic, if you can keep it." This week, in an out-of-character program, we talk more about Benjamin Franklin. Find this episode, along with recommended reading,  on the blog . Su...

"So he records in a barn? Where'd he get that?" jeffersonhour.bandcamp.com/album/working-with-ken-burns Find this episode, along with recommended reading,  on the blog . Support the show by joining the  1776 Club  or by  donating  to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc. You can learn more about Clay's cultural tours & retreats at  jeffersonhour.com/tours . Check out our  new merch . You can find Clay's...

"For Franklin, knowledge was important, but application of knowledge ... mattered to him as much as any pure science." — Clay S. Jenkinson Thomas Jefferson had an immense respect for Benjamin Franklin, who was nearly 37 years his senior. Franklin became one of the most respected Americans during the revolution and was, in a sense, pushed there by British arrogance. Find this episode, along with re...

"Understand him for his flaws as well as for his greatness." — Joe Ellis  We welcome historian Joseph Ellis to the program this week to talk about his book American Creation. In the book, Ellis notes a series of five contributions the founding fathers made and Clay Jenkinson asks how those contributions are holding up during our time. Find this episode, along with recommended reading,  on the blog...

You can hear this 1776 Club episode here : https://jeffersonhour.bandcamp.com/album/storytelling Clay and David discuss storytelling, documentary film-making, and Clay's experiences being interviewed by Ken Burns. Find this episode, along with recommended reading,  on the blog . Support the show by joining the  1776 Club  or by  donating  to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc. You can learn more about...