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Heming and Hawing at American History
Founding Father Nick Nolte.
- The caretakers of Monticello are all in on pushing the line that there is absolutely no doubt that Jefferson fathered Sally Heming’s children. I will likely put up a post just on this unfortunate state of affairs.
- Prior to my scheduled tour, I strolled down to the family plot and back up to the west portico. There were few people around and an exuberant child with Down Syndrome and his mother came across my path. The young child blurted out to me, “There. There look! That’s on a nickel!” I replied, “You got that right, my friend. Seems like you know your stuff, amigo.” Later, we were waiting in an outdoor space while the tour began. The tour guide started by asking us if any of know where we can easily see Monticello. She was prepping to whip out a giant fake nickel. I said to myself, please God, let this child seize his opportunity to shine. Right on cue, my new friend blurted out, “On a nickel! You see it on a nickel!” I choked up a bit. Well played, my friend.
And here’s the kicker. Please let me know if there is any interest in my organizing a Ricochet meet-up in Charlottesville at Monticello at 9 a.m., July 4, 2024. Why, you might ask? It seems that every July 4 at precisely 9 a.m., a large contingent of blessed individuals stands on the steps of Monticello to be sworn in as citizens of the greatest country on earth. Evidently, crowds come early and flood the grassy expanse in front of Monticello to be a part of the ceremony. Newly anointed citizens are able to approach a microphone and say a few words. The tour guide noted that there is not a dry eye as far as one can see.
I can only imagine what it must be like to be born somewhere else dreaming of the possibility of being a U.S. citizen. Not to be rich. Not to be powerful. Just one of the many who enjoy our freedoms and pledge allegiance thereto. To so many who know the U.S. only from stories and movies, it must seem an unattainable dream. Well, those who have managed to attain it will be there sharing their heartfelt love of the U.S. of A.
I plan on being there next year. I hope we can get a smattering of Ricochet members there as well.
Published in General
Wow what a great idea. That sounds wonderful.
Let me check my schedule…
You want to blame Randolph, Isham, or another?
I would blame no one. If I had to pick a likely father, it would be Randolph. My main contention is that it is a hotly contested issue and is by no means settled. The available evidence points to, conservatively, about a 95 -5 (Not Jefferson/Is Jefferson) probability. In this environment where victim hood is good and white founding fathers are bad, it just too good a story to allow for any dissent. It’s like climate change.
As a huge T.J. fan, I hate to see him smeared when he cannot defend himself.
As a huge Thomas Jefferson fan, don’t you worry that referring to Thomas Jefferson as “T.J.” or “Tommy J” reflects a certain lack of respect?
Ricochet meetup at Monticello is a brilliant idea.
Not at all. He was a man of the people. I love Lil Mambo Thombo.
I’m currently reading the McCullough biography of John Adams, which details the great friendship between Adams and Jefferson. He was a fascinating and complicated person. I visited Monticello a couple years ago and was similarly annoyed that the tour emphasizes the Hemings scandal. It’s one thing to acknowledge the possibility and another to make it front and center, while denying that there’s any debate about it. Researching for more information, I found a seemingly well researched article about it by Ann Coulter. It still amazes me that the living will determine what is worthy of remembering about the dead regardless of the truth. I think the truth is we don’t know.
Well, and that’s hardly the most important or interesting thing about him.
Indeed. If I remember rightly, he signed himself as TI.
“TI”?
You may know much more about this than I. I did some quick research, including at the Monticello site. I didn’t see any evidence that would allow one to place odds in a meaningful sense.
As I understand it, the summary of the evidence is:
These seem to be the relevant facts. There does not appear to be any evidence that would allow one to determine whether the father of Easton Hemings was Thomas Jefferson, or one of many other males in the Jefferson family. There also does not appear to be any evidence that would allow one to determine whether the father of Easton Hemings was the same man as the father of Sally’s other children.
Thomas Jefferson did free the children of Sally Hemings, eventually. To me, this seems equally consistent with them being his own children, or the children of another relative of his.
Comment to follow.
My comment on the question of the parentage of Sally Hemings’s children is that I find it appalling that the officials at Monticello would declare a firm conclusion on the issue. The evidence seems insufficient to reach any conclusion about Thomas Jefferson’s involvement, though there is very strong DNA evidence that one of Sally’s children was fathered by one of the Jefferson men.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this has to do with THE MESSAGE.
Wasn’t he an insurrectionist?
As with U and V, I and J used to be interchangeable.
F and S too, right? That’s why we have the purfuit of happineff in the Declaration of Independence
No. That was the medial s: ſ not f. Note, it does not have the bit in the middle front. It is also the basis of the German digraph: ß.
I wonder how uvula used to be spelled.
I still have difficulty with vacuum.
Originally, uvola. The question, though, is how was it originally pronounced. (It meant, “small bunch of grapes.”)
He signed documents – letters, I presume? – with his initials. Is there any evidence he ever signed as Tommy J? Or as Lil Mambo Thombo? Did he ask anyone to address him as “TJ” or as “TI” or as “Lil Mambo Thombo?”
I don’t understand how such terms reflect historical accuracy or prominence, let alone respect.
Your lack of understanding is regrettable. The world needs ditch diggers. If I don’t thank them enough, let me thank you for the menial but important life you must lead. Cheers.
On that we agree.