Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)

Approval Rate: 76%

76%Approval ratio

Reviews 49

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    nickthequick

    Mon Dec 14 2009

    One of the integral founding fathers, the country would not have become what it was without him. While he was a great founding father, he was only a good president. He did many positive things, like pardoning those imprisoned under the Alien and Sedition Acts, and removing the "midnight judges" of Adams (the previous president) which led in part to the decision of Marbury v. Madison. He also purchased the Louisiana Territory, essentially doubling the size of the U.S., and sent two guys on their relatively unknown trek across some mountains where they met some Native American woman that may or may not have been on a coin recently. But Jefferson also had his errors. The Embargo Act is the most famous, and was repealed within a couple years after being recognized as ineffective. He also signed a law that made it illegal for African Americans to handle mail, which doesn't look quite as smart as he must have thought it was. TJ's contributions to the States were undeniable, he was one of th... Read more

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    jrichardma

    Thu Dec 11 2008

    We need to go back and listen to the advice this man left us.

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    strijdom

    Mon Nov 10 2008

    Few can deny the contributions he made to America that persists to this day.

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    michael3722

    Fri Sep 19 2008

    Jefferson was a leader in developing republicanism in the United States.

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    claire9018

    Thu Sep 18 2008

    First president to send American troops to protect Americans in another country - Tripoli, Libya in 1803. Besides writing the Declaration of Independence, he was one of the movers and shakers so to speak who came up with not only a brand new form of government, but a whole new way of life too. You can thank Thomas Jefferson that the social classes are not inpenetrable. In the U.S., if you work hard enough and long enough, you can go as far in life as you desire. In Europe and other places, no matter how hard you tried, you stayed in the same socio-economic class your whole life, unless you did something so outstanding that a monarch gave you a formal title and lands. This didn't happen often.

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    astromike

    Thu Sep 18 2008

    Can you say Declaration of Independence?.....Nuf said!  The intelligence level of  ALL these colonial presidents astounds me.

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    30_going_on_13_thanks_to_nkotb

    Sat Aug 09 2008

    was ok despite his secret affair can you imagine the scanda;l if he was in politics now??

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    paul623

    Sat Aug 02 2008

    The real father of our democracy and republic. It would be great if all citizens would read some of this great writer and statesman. He would be disgusted over the current state of our presidency and its betrayal of both democracy and the republic in the name of party loyalty.

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    michael_jenkins

    Wed Jul 23 2008

    He was a great president, he expanded our land and gave the power to the people.

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    brenden

    Wed Jun 25 2008

    He helped build our country and make it into the nation it is today. Too bad he was racist, though.

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    mike667

    Wed Jun 25 2008

    One of the best leaders our country's ever had. Huge advocate for separation of church and state.

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    myspace_387493239

    Mon Jun 09 2008

    yes, he initiated the Declaration of Independance...however, I know that most of the men that signed that had ulterior motives...nuff said

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    fb1064118008

    Fri May 23 2008

    A visionary.

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    dlf67ff7

    Tue May 06 2008

    Excellent choices in "man of few words" department at a time when articulating American values was a work in progress. Loses one point for owning slaves, and one more for admiring the French a little too much.

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    myspace_30849171

    Tue May 06 2008

    The original Republican, small government. The original revolutionary (he REALLY felt revolution...just look up any of his quotes.) "Dissent is the greatest form of patriotism..." Kinda screwed the French out of Louisiana though...

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    oceansoul

    Tue Apr 22 2008

    Jefferson was the first to ignore the rules of his position, thus providing a precedent claimed and utilized by some of the worst officials to fill the office of President.

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    louiethe20th

    Sat Sep 15 2007

    I agree with Mysteryman that without Jefferson there may not have been a United States. Let me up that one, without a Constitution based on The Ten Commandments and God fearing, there would not be a U.S. The great Forefathers understood that it cannot be left up to man to decide what is right and wrong. The only thing that divides a Democracy and Communism is GOD. "The GOD who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time." ~~~Thomas Jefferson

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    dcqhbfha

    Mon May 07 2007

    THOMAS JEFFERSON POONS ASS.

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    loerke

    Sun Apr 08 2007

    If we rate him simply as a president, rather than as a man with many other accomplishments to his name, Jefferson must be regarded as a mixed success. His administration was unprincipled, and he tended as president to violate the precepts he'd established earlier in his writing. As a congressional representative he counted the ballots that ensured his own election. As President he purchased Louisiana on the sly, without consulting congress. His Embargo was a thorough disaster. Jefferson was a fascinating and fallible human being, and one of those fascinations is the fact that, for me, he was a great writer but only a somewhat above-average president.

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    gromit

    Wed Mar 21 2007

    A great President!  Very astute, well-read, and practical.  His famous quotes mean more today than they ever did!

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    primaxdonna

    Wed Feb 21 2007

    this man was the author of the declaration of independence. he was the third president of the united states. he was an OVER-achiever in any sane-thinking persons' books.

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    genghisthehun

    Tue Feb 20 2007

    Over-rated underachiever. He managed almost to destroy USA economy with his bone-headed embargo and foreign relations. He was a coward during the Revolutionary War. He was Governor of Virginia and totally dropped the ball. He fled when the going got tough and the Fathers of Virginia had to replace him! Louisiana purchase moves him up to two stars. He cribbed the Declaration of Independence and was heavily edited, in any case. If you dispute my analysis, why, look it up for yourself. The Iron Verdict of History is there for everyone to peruse!

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    ben999

    Sun Feb 11 2007

    A great president. One of the countries founding fathers. Wrote parts of the United States Constitution. Recieved the best bargain in American History when the French sold the Louisiana Purchase for $15 Million. However, he was a hypocrit in the sense that he spoke out against slavery even though he had slaves himself.

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    victor83

    Sun Feb 11 2007

    I believe that Jefferson would have ended slavery had that been a viable option at the time. He warned repeatedly that future generations would bleed because of the institution. He made some bad decisions regarding trade and economic policy, but overall a great President. On a side note- I find him perhaps the most interesting of all the Presidents. He was such a genius that I believe he sort of lived in his own world, operating on a different plane. Probably the only "Mozart" to ever serve as Pres.

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    billyguns2

    Wed Dec 13 2006

    A great man who presided over a good although uncongenial presidency, Jefferson didn't think enough of his time in office to have it listed on his tombstone. It was eight years of peace and rapid expansion for the U.S. under Jefferson's Administration.

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    brianmyers

    Sat May 20 2006

    The most well-rounded President in history with talents in not just leadership, but writing and architecture as well.

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    lion_in_winter

    Fri Apr 28 2006

    The writer of the Declaration of Independence (One of the greatest written documents of all time) Was a man of superlative intelligence- and along with Madison are the two pillars of the 'checks and balances' that are the framework of our form of Government. Of all the Presidents ,Jefferson was truly a renaissance man of the ages.

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    ih8rateitall

    Sat Mar 11 2006

    This president loved the "sistas." Different strokes for different folks dudes.

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    geog84

    Fri Feb 03 2006

    Major author of the declaration, and key member of the constitutional convention.

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    gatiw0a3

    Thu Dec 15 2005

    The best of them all. I think he did the most for our country and was also the brightest. I would have loved to know him. Did you ever see the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. - it says it all!

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    malmsey71

    Mon Nov 28 2005

    The most fascinating figure, and probably the most brilliant, eloquent, intelligent, and well-read man, ever to be president. His integrity can hardly be questioned, yet his contradictions make him a fascinating character study. And his commitment to the ideals of liberty and the building of a new nation leave him with few peers among the towering pantheon of Founding Fathers. His commitment to religious freedom and his unwavering desire to protect religion from government encroachment and, likewise, the government from religious encroachment, are unparalleled in American history. The "Wall of Separation" was a concept that came from his own hand. He was also, however, a philosopher and an idealist -- qualities not always suited to effective leadership, for it sometimes meant his head was in the clouds and his ideals couldn't find traction in the down-and-dirty world of politics. And when he became president, he indeed found that many of his high-minded principles didn't translate to t... Read more

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    distopic69

    Sun Sep 04 2005

    I used to like Jefferson a lot. IN the last year, I have read Bio's on Washington, Franklin, Adams, and Hammilton. I now see him as a guy who wrote the declaration(franklin eddited it) then disapeared during the Rev. He did not fight, in fact often fled in terror, then attacked Hamiliton (a war hero) on his war record. He acts nice in public and goes around stabbing in the back anyone who disagreed with him politically. the only good thing he did as a Pres was the louisanna purchase otherwise some bad choices. and to user Chagoth who said that Jefferson left Adams midnight packing of the courts alone.... umm justice S Chase was impeached but was not voted out, had he been Jefferson would have gone after Marshall. Thankfully he failed. He was a petty man who should have been better.

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    elephty

    Fri Sep 02 2005

    While Lincoln wrote and spoke like an idealist Jefferson was a realist.

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    lahell84

    Wed Aug 31 2005

    Thomas Jefferson warned, When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Considering the times we live in today, Jefferson proved to be quite the visionary. Questioning ones government does not equate to treason.

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    chagoth

    Wed Jul 27 2005

    With the Louisiana Purchase, he doubled the size of the United States. Jefferson believed in small government and believed that people should govern themselves. He also banned the slave trade as president and had the vision to fund the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Jefferson also knew how to handle the judiciary. Right before Adams left office, Adams packed the courts with partisan federalist judges. When Jefferson assumed the presidency, he didn't try to remove the judges or have them impeached, Jefferson simply wouldn't pay them thereby eliminating half of Adams horrible appointees. Brilliant!

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    mr_democratic

    Sat Apr 30 2005

    Thomas Jefferson was worthless slave owning trash and I wish he never would've been Presedent!!!

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    caligula

    Fri Apr 15 2005

    Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814 Just one of many quotes of Jefferson indicating that the ten commandments had nothing to do with the constitution. You have to be both brain damaged and ignorant to believe Jefferson was a Xian, he was, at best, a diest, who flatly rejected all attempts to impose Xianity into govt. I encourage people to do their own research on this.

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    3hands

    Sat Mar 26 2005

    the best. pure and simple

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    kipprabbit

    Sun Mar 06 2005

    probably the most intelligent man ever to occupy the white house; and basically tripled the United States in size overnight with the Louisiana purchase; he also made sure he kept us out of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe

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    aurumdragon

    Sun Jan 23 2005

    He was an intelligent man who graced his place in history, by contributing every cell of his brain to God and his Country.

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    barbkaye57

    Sun Jan 23 2005

    Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man. He spoke several languages, was a very prolific writer and inventor. From this we know he was always thinking, always looking at new ideas. I believe he probably fathered children by at least one of his slaves. While I don't approve of slavery from what I've gathered it was much more complicated freeing slaves than we know. I don't know what the relationship was between these two. I do believe he probably treated his slave as well as you can treat someone you own. Though the only black mark I can give Jefferson is that he was a slaveowner. If I could I'd give a 4.5 for that.

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    cjund9fa

    Thu Jan 06 2005

    Our great national creep, famous for doing the opposite of what he said, Jefferson did greatly expand the size of the country _ bad luck, Native Americans _ as well as the power of the presidency.

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    jeffersonsurvi_ves86

    Sat Dec 18 2004

    The greatest president ever.

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    bsd987

    Wed Nov 03 2004

    Let me go in between. There is no way in hell Jefferson should be #2. He was not a great president under any circumstances, he was average. I know this has become semi-redundant, but he was much better outside of the presidency than inside it. Should he be rated bad (2), no way. He was OK.

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    awilcox

    Tue Oct 19 2004

    Sage of Monicello.

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    chalky

    Fri Oct 08 2004

    i hear he was all about the sexual chocolate

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    steelseal

    Sun Sep 19 2004

    Thomas Jefferson was a paradoxical man. As secretary of state he favored paying tribute to the Barbary States to end their attacks on U.S. shipping. But as president, he stopped the bribery and launched a four-year war that led to the vanquishing of those countries. He was a Federalist because he feared a strong central government would abolish slavery and he, of course, was a slave holder. He engineered one of the great real-estate deals of all time when he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase for a paltry $15 million. Despite his slave holdings, he insisted that Montana and other western areas of the Purchase be slave free. Yet he resolutely resisted extending those guarantees to the East since he, after all, lived in the East. He made significant contributions to government and politics. He helped found the University of Virginia, and was an inveterate botanist and a creative inventor. He was also a dirty political infighter who squabbled so ferociously with Alexander Hamilton, ... Read more

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    csacrusader

    Wed Sep 15 2004

    Horray for Tommy J!

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    hanbcutie

    Wed Sep 15 2004

    woo again