Who is this man? Even after more than two centuries, no consensus has been reached on the elusive person of Thomas Jefferson. Virtually all Americans can identify two of his most significant achievements: his authorship of the 'Declaration of Independence' and being President of the United States (1801-1809). If you look closely into his eyes, however, you might catch another side of the profound statesman. For in comparison to John Edwards, whose extra-marital affair has been the subject of endless reporting and analysis over the last week, Thomas Jefferson set a national standard for romantic mischief..
It all began at his alma mater. At The College of William & Mary, Jefferson fell in love with a young woman by the name of Rebecca Burwell. When his feelings were not reciprocated, he was immediately overtaken by one of his famous, lifelong migraines. It would not be the last time a headache would result from a heartache.
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At some point in his young adult years, Jefferson made an indiscreet, romantic overture to a married woman near his residence in Virginia. Due to her mature non-response, thereby allowing the matter to drop, Jefferson was able to avoid a damaged reputation.
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Years later in 1772, Jefferson took Martha Wayles Skelton, a widow, as his bride. After having several children together, Martha died only ten years into their blissful marriage. Overwrought with grief, Jefferson subsequently decided to leave his beloved Virginia for an ambassadorship to France in order to begin life anew.
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Paris possessed all of Jefferson's passions - books, politics, classical architecture, gourmet food - and beautiful women. It was a perfect remedy for an anguished, heartbroken man.
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Rather than become attracted to one of the many high-society, eligible French belles, Jefferson was instantly smitten with the wife an English painter. Maria Cosway, a 27 year-old, elegant young woman with all the refinements of a genuine European lady, became the object of all of his attention. After several carriage rides and long, flirtatious walks, she gravitated to the 43 year-old American. Coquettish letters were exchanged, and Jefferson entered into a period of intense emotional conflict. As a result of his swirling passions, he wrote a unique love-letter, never posted, in the form of a dialogue between his 'head' (reason) and his 'heart' (passion) sometime in 1786. Although historians cannot verify whether or not Jefferson and Cosway had an illicit affair, several lines in his letters, which appear to be metaphorical, seem to indicate that the relationship contained at least some physical affection. Unquestionably, the depth of their 'friendship' was purposely concealed from her husband.
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If that were all, one might already judge John Edwards as being a relative lightweight in contrast to Jefferson's amorous affinity for betrothed women. However, his alleged, crowning romantic escapade, wholly out of convention in both America and the South, is still causing controversy in historical journals today.
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James T. Callender, a frustrated muckraking journalist (he would have had quite a career for the National Enquirer) who had been denied a position in the Jefferson administration, vengefully published allegations that the sitting president had been having an affair with one of his mulatto slaves by the name of Sally Hemings. Furthermore, several of her children, he wrote, had been sired by Jefferson. Outside of the then unspeakable thought of a president having sexual relations with a black slave, Callender used the word 'concubine' to add another sordid dimension to the tale. Hence, he was reporting that Jefferson had forced his young, female chattel slave into a carnal relationship against her will. Was it true? Similar to Edwards, Jefferson denied the charge, albeit indirectly, in a letter three years later.
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Two centuries later, in 1998, DNA testing technology was employed to render a final verdict on the veracity of the claim, and the results shocked Jefferson scholars. According to the scientists, Jefferson had most likely been the father of at least one of Sally Hemings' children. As to whether the relationship was coercive (i.e. master-slave) or consensual, the full story of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings has been buried in their graves. Two pieces of circumstantial evidence seem to add a bit of weight to the conclusions of the DNA team: 1) Jefferson and Hemings were together nine months prior to the birth of each of her children and 2) In his will, Jefferson only freed the Hemings family from slavery.
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Despite his occasional salacious behavior, Thomas Jefferson not only ranks as one of the best presidents among historians but continues to be one of the most popular and beloved figures in American and world history. His unsurpassed rhetoric of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' has inspired millions of people, including Abraham Lincoln, to make sacrifices for the cause of freedom around the world.
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History has indeed forgiven Jefferson for his human foibles, none of which were seemingly malicious in intent, in light of his significant contribution to civilization. As John Edwards has devoted his career to addressing and ending poverty in America, his legacy, regardless of engaging in 'Jeffersonian' indiscretions, will likely fare quite well among future generations.
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Ultimately, it should be recalled that Jefferson famously wrote 'All men are created equal' - not 'perfect'.
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J Roquen
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Jefferson's 'Head and Heart' letter concerning Maria Cosway may be read at the following link:
http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/archives/documents/ih195811.htm