After recently visiting Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, as well as Washington D.C., I have been reading Jefferson's two inaugural addresses. He was a wonderful speaker, but it takes some careful reading and re-reading to fully understand what he meant. For those of you who may be LDS, it's kind of like reading an address by Neal A. Maxwell; not light reading, but worth the effort.
I want to share a few passages from his first address. "To you, then, gentlemen, who are charged with the sovereign functions of legislation, and to those associated with you, I look with encouragement for that guidance and support which may enable us to steer with safety the vessel in which we are all embarked amidst the conflicting elements of a troubled world." I liked the symbolism of steering a boat amidst the storms of life, as well as the fact that apparently the world always seems troubled- back then as well as now.
During the elections in 1800 there was a tie in the electoral college between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. As per the Constitutional rules at that time, the House of Representatives had to meet and one would be chosen as President and the other would become Vice President. After meeting for 30 hours of deliberation, the House awarded the Presidency to Jefferson. Referring to that, he made the following quote in his address; "announced according to the rules of the Constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good. All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression. Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind. Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things.....But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists..." I think he would be worried to see how divided our country has become as the political parties have become so unwilling to unite under compromise for the good of all. I particularly liked his idea that ' every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.'
At the end of his address he concludes with this passage.
"I repair, then, fellow-citizens, to the post you have assigned me. With experience enough in subordinate offices to have seen the difficulties of this the greatest of all (the presidency), I have learned to expect that it will rarely fall to the lot of imperfect man to retire from this station with the reputation and the favor which bring him into it. (the reputation of the president as he finishes his term or terms is seldom as positive as when he first sought office) Without pretensions to that high confidence you reposed in our first and greatest revolutionary character( G. Washington), whose preeminent services had entitled him to the first place in his country's love and destined for him the fairest page in the volume of faithful history, I ask so much confidence only as may give firmness and effect to the legal administration of your affairs. I shall often go wrong through defect of judgment. When right, I shall often be thought wrong by those whose positions will not command a view of the whole ground. I ask you indulgence for my own errors, which will never be intentional, and your support against the errors of others, who may condemn what they would not if seen in all its parts. The approbation implied by your suffrage is a great consolation to me for the past, and my future solicitude will be to retain the good opinion of those who have bestowed it in advance, to conciliate that of others by doing them all the good in my power, and to be instrumental to the happiness and freedom of all."
Jefferson has such vision of how it would be for future presidents of our country. They seldom leave office with an untarnished reputation in some form or fashion. It also made me realize that these men are only human, and for the greatest part, I believe they serve as President because they are dedicated to the cause of helping our country be the best that it can be. Even those past presidents whom I have not liked or agreed with on many points, I believe were following the dictates of their hearts and seeking to do that which was right in their minds. For this reason it frustrates me when I hear people (and I have been guilty of this with past presidencies) say that the President doesn't really care about America and is out to ruin our land.
As I read Jefferson's second inaugural address I realized that there are some notions which he had that I did not agree with. One of those concerns his views on how to deal with the Native Americans during the early years of our country, following the Revolutionary War. I would like to challenge you to look up and read this address (You can easily find it on Bartleby.com) and then tell me what you think about Jefferson's ideas relating to this issue. It could make for some great discussions on Facebook.
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