Thomas Jefferson's Dark Side

      Thomas Jefferson has a dark side that goes unnoticed by many but was brought to light through his treachery to promote his ideas and political career. He was able to influence people around him without any care for their success or careers.

      Jefferson exploited the bitterness between architects William Thornton and Stephen Hallet, according to Wulf, in an effort to rid Washington’s idea for a tomb space in the Capitol to be buried. He instigated in the two architects efforts that would end up getting one fired after he had taken over the project from Thornton because of changes he made, suggested most likely by Thomas Jefferson. (Wulf, 134-135). Jefferson who had a personal relationship with both these men watched as they both messed up this project that most likely hurt their careers and echoes in order to influence his wishes into an issue.

William Thornton

     Another example of his under the radar actions can be seen when he suggested that an architectural competition as stated by Wulf when she says, “…Jefferson, sensing another opportunity to influence matters, suggested that an architectural competition be held for the design of the President’s house” (Wulf, 134). He has been accused by historians of either anonymously submitting his own design or influencing the designs that were submitted by builder John Collins.

Jefferson was even willing to pay for his advancement in politics, which truly goes against the stereotype of the humble Jefferon that most people have always thought about the man. Wulf gives the evidence when she states, “The campaigning became even more venomous than the previous election, when a hack journalist (to whom Jefferson had provided some financial support) portrayed Adams as both mad and a ‘hideous hermaphroditical character which has neither the force nor firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman’” (Wulf, 142). Jefferson seemed to be willing to do just about anything shy of illegal actions to promote himself and his ideas politically.

Abagail railed in her last letter to Jefferson, accusing him of “the blackest calumny, and foulest falsehoods.” Jefferson, she wrote, had masterminded a smear campaign of “the lowest and vilest Slander”