Founding Father

A worthwhile read by Hisham Melhem

"Of all the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson was the one most revered, even worshiped, then reviled and buried with shrieks of condemnations. He has been “revised” and “deconstructed” ad nauseam, then resurrected with hymns of praise and/or with endless caveats. At one time or another Jefferson has been admired by revolutionaries and reactionaries alike: die-hard crusaders for the rights of “everyman” against the entrenched interests of the moneyed class and industrialists drew inspiration from Jefferson, while his obsession with liberty and education made him a champion for liberals and his defense of small government and state rights made him an icon for conservatives. No wonder that presidents as different as John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan both counted themselves among Jefferson’s disciples."