1st Democrat - VP to Thomas Jefferson

Something of a thug, and with much more in common with the politicians of the present than most would care to admit. A bad enemy and a worse friend, this is my kind of guy.

Even the most triumphantly positive historical moments have their dark side, and we Americans don't hear much about the dark side of the Founding. As brilliantly profiled in a historical novel by Gore Vidal, Burr embodies, with all his plotting and double-dealing, all of those qualities that make historical actors interesting.

Today is July 11, the anniversary of the duel in 1804 where AB plugged Alexander Hamilton.

He was one of the chief founders of the Democratic Party in New York State and is also notably remembered for his treason trial.

He was indicted for treason because the "saintly" Thomas Jefferson whipped his administration to keep submitting Burr's case to the grand jury. After the fourth attempt the Jefferson Administration finally got an indictment.

Jefferson hated Burr because they had both received the identical number of votes for President in the electoral college and Burr would not yield to Jefferson. The House of Representatives had to elect and Jefferson vowed to get even.

As to the treason charges, Burr was broke when he left the Vice Presidency and he became involved in some plot with some of Jefferson's corrupt territorial governors and generals to seize some Spanish Territory.

The informant against Burr was none other than his co-conspirator, Jefferson's crooked Governor of Louisiana Territory, General Wilkinson.

Jefferson sat on the information for over a year. Nobody knows why but finally acted as I stated before. The acts that Burr had supposedly committed were mere misdemeanors under the law but the Jeffersonians overreached themselves and indicted Burr for treason after three unsuccessful tries.

Burr came to trial in the Circuit Court of the United States August 3, 1807, in Richmond, Virginia. Chief Justice John Marshall presided.

So flimsy was the charge that Marshall dismissed the indictment. It seems the U. S. Constitution requires two witnesses in open court to secure a conviction. The Jeffersonians could not dig up another witness!

After the aquittal, Jefferson did not give up. He forced an indictment of the proper misdemeanor charge for violation of the Neutrality Act. Again Burr was aquitted--on a technicality--croaked the Jeffersonians.

The moral of my tale--don't p*ss off the "saintly" Tom Jefferson!

Other than military service during the Revolution, Burr had little to do with the success of the revolution and the establishment of the American government. I hardly believe he can be considered a founding father. A bitter and corrupt man, he was far too concerned with politics and his own personal gain rather than the prosperity and security of our country. In today's atmosphere he would be considered a cunning politician with the likes of Tip O'Neill and LBJ. However, back then he had little to offer the country and was not very significant in the grand scheme of things.