Dirty Politics

Although it has its boring stretches, I am really enjoying the book Adams v. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800. Inside, I just came across the story of James Callender, a convicted seditionist, who Thomas Jefferson hired to write scourges against John Adams' character during the presidential race. Callender, fresh off destroying Alexander Hamilton's reputation, greedily accepted the opportunity.

This book is incredibly eye-opening about the nature of politics in the United States. If you thought presidential and congressional politics were nasty and distasteful, they're nothing compared to 200 years ago! Alexander Hamilton tried to manipulate both the eletion of 1796 and 1800 to elect the candidate that would give him the most power.

The thing that amused me about Callender was what he was looking for in  a wife. These are the three things he wanted: A woman who could fatten pigs, boil hominy, and hold her tongue.

Later, after Jefferson's victory made John Adams a one-term president, Callender tried to blackmail Jefferson. He threatened to release all the seedy details of their partnership, so Jefferson paid him off with $50. It didn't buy his silence for long, because Callender soon disclosed in the press what Jefferson did to Adams--and as a bonus--spilled the alleged details about Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

Ladies, you may be relieved to know that Callender died just a few years after his quest--in three feet of water along the shore of the James River in Virginia.

* I always knew that Adams and Jefferson despised each other, but later became great friends, corresponded for decades, and died on the same day (July 4, 1826). But what I didn't know previously was that they were great friends BEFORE they got into presidential politics. And what drove them apart was a misunderstanding over private comments Jefferson made about Adams' monarchistic tendencies. They were comments Jefferson would have--and did--discuss with Adams, but because it came out as gossip, it destroyed their friendship for many years.

Comments

[Candace]

I learn so much from your site!