Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power | Jon Meacham | Talks at Google

[@rockstarr9000]

I went to college with Jon. He is as brilliant now as he was then.

[@CC-jl7jz]

And a woke idiot.

[@USCPSC-uz6yl]

I got the book yesterday and it's very informative and interesting. Jefferson is probably one of my favorite Presidents.

[@karanpatel1452]

The dude who raped his slaves?

[@ednakelley814]

@@karanpatel1452 Because when you find fault and sin in someone that negates everything else they ever did right?

[@nstix2009xitsn]

@@karanpatel1452 You're a racist liar. "Giving Thomas Jefferson the Business: The Sally Hemings Hoax." nicholasstixuncensored.blogspot.com/2019/07/giving-thomas-jefferson-business-sally.html

[@forrestpowell12]

I read the remainder of the book this week while having a cough/fever. Absolutely displayed accuratemy to the mind and long life. It researched heavily into numerous Jeffersonian images that I couldn't believe we're found, especially his fascination in balloons under his administration.

[@margotadair1007]

Someone with JM’s knowledge of the past (of past presidents’ lives) should be an adviser to any sitting president. His knowledge of how past presidents dealt with issues is so on point. I like his commentary on Jefferson’s belief that civic engagement in politics should be met with compromise is important for the continuation of our republic. Meacham’s mention of G Washington’s letter to both Hamilton and Jefferson about their cutthroat dealings with each other endangered the new republic’s survival and making the country vulnerable to foreign enemies is so applicable to todays’ politics. Of how some elected leaders now see enemies of decades ago as not an enemy (i.e. Russia, North Kore, Nazism) and how Congress is at an impasse regarding governance for the entire country and focusing on partisan politics and the politization of government agencies is so scary and discouraging.

[@gls600]

What I love about Jefferson is the willingness he showed to set aside dogma in order to accomplish the purchase French Louisiana. Today it seems that politicians would rather see the country fall apart rather than compromise on positions that stem from their world view.

[@montello33]

And the US got a hell of a deal and 10 cents an acre as they say.

[@garywilliams1935]

We need a revolution, of the French variety.

[@Heraclitean]

I envy people like Meacham, who can answer the question, "Does there need to be yet another book about Jefferson?" with an unproblematic, unhesitating "Yes, and I shall write it."

[@dejure9178]

Here is a non-fringe commentary on this book. Well-written, insightful biography that belongs in the recent pantheon of excellent biographies written on a number of Founders: Adams and Hamilton come to mind.

[@victorcross5949]

I've just finished reading it; it is very good.

[@JustinUrban1]

What we are missing now is more intellectuals like Jon. Now people only listen to KZbin Political and Conspiracy theorists.

[@Satyr_Art_Studio]

49:15 This is a valuable point made here, and it touches on an important aspect of Google's current attempts at tuning and revising it's services; Google is currently practicing customizing search results, both in Google Search as well as in KZbin. Consequently individuals are being presented with self-reinforcing query results and denied alternate POV to evaluate. My wife & I already experience VASTLY different search results. We surprise each other with them daily. It's VERY disturbing.

[@wildbudda]

He's great. Wow, what a tough crowd though! No one is laughing at his jokes which are pretty funny!

[@davysteak]

They didn't understand the references. STEM heads are lacking in the liberal arts.

[@HEALInformatics]

Meacham is not some basement blogger: "A former Executive Editor and Executive Vice President at Random House, he is a contributing writer to The New York Times Book Review, a contributing editor to Time magazine, and a former Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek. He is the author of several books. He won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. He holds the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Endowed Chair in American Presidency at Vanderbilt University." -WP

[@nstix2009xitsn]

Jeffersonian American He's no "basement blogger," he's a high-class hoaxer, as attested to by his fraudulent Pulitzer. "Giving Thomas Jefferson the Business: The Sally Hemings Hoax." nicholasstixuncensored.blogspot.com/2019/07/giving-thomas-jefferson-business-sally.html

[@writethisthat3613]

fantastic, I really enjoyed this

[@wcgreennyc]

To say that "The War between Eng. & Am. was from 1764 to1812" is to say that Great Britain was at war with the world. King & Parliament treated the world with the same pomposity that it treated the United States. American reactions were no different than, say French, Prussian, Indian, Chinese, etc., etc., etc.

[@FCSchaefer]

Meacham's book is a great work on a great man, unfairly maligned in this too politically correct age.

[@LaplacianFourier]

God damn right! We are all enjoying the fruits of his labor while smearing feces on his legacy. Jefferson was wrong about humans, we deserve kings and masters.

[@shotgun111180]

jefferson is the best!!

[@shotgun111180]

I know right... just ask Burr!

[@ednakelley814]

@Walter King You're evaluating 18th century policies through 20th century mindset. Context. Most of these men, Washington included were all white supremacist by it's literal definition. They truly felt that the black man was not their equal. Lincoln even felt this way and he was an abolitionist! I'm not saying that it right but that was the wide belief in their time period, not ours. Context is important in the study of history!! Although Hamilton may not have owned slaves, his hands aren't dirty. Even Alexander Hamilton's grandson said that his grandfather would buy and sell slaves for other people acting as their Representative. Point being is we can find dirt anyone. Are we now going down a road of political correctness where if someone is connected to slavery then that negates any and all contribution they had historically in founding this country? This 20th century mindset that if someone had a slave then their opinion or work on anything is void is a detriment to history. Again, context.

[@bunnybird9342]

@@ednakelley814 literally no person ever is 100% good or 100% bad. You are allowed to respect and admire certain people but do not glorify or idolize anyone. There was so much anti-intellectualism going on on both sides of this discussion. He who is without sin cast the first stone.

[@ednakelley814]

@@bunnybird9342 That's the problem. Anything postitive said about anyone (all have sin as your cited) is labeld as "glorified".

[@bunnybird9342]

@@ednakelley814 there are idiots on both sides. On one side, we have people who straight-up glorify these people and treat them like they are mythical god figures. But on the other side, there are anti-intellectuals who want to disregard everything. This is what happened with all of the controversies surrounding memorials after George Floyd's death in 2020. I do agree that there are people who are evil and therefore don't deserve any respect (such as Confederates and conquistadors), but some things went too far.

[@blackstar101kesha]

"We did it for SEO"

[@firstlady...]

When Jon Meacham speaks, you need to get your dictionary out!

[@buckrogers8661]

I'm a little confused about what party he belonged to . I'm reading John Adams biography the author David McCullough he refers to Jefferson as Republican .can someone enlighten me on the subject?

[@autumnleaves8]

His party was called the Democratic-Republican Party so either name is somewhat accurate.

[@NotLoganHighestPrimate]

He started the Republican party as it was the first peaceful transfer of political power from the Federalists to the Jeffersonian Republicans/Democratic-Republicans or just simply, Republicans. "By 1792, opposition to the policies of the Federalist Party was growing. Led by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), critics of the Federalists banded together to form the Republican Party . They were also called Democratic-Republicans or Jeffersonian Republicans."

[@HundreadD]

That comment about Twitter was more than prescient

[@thinkingman2]

I always thought that Jefferson stalled on slavery so that he would not lose his African sister-in-law lover who reminded him of his dead wife who he loved more than anything.

[@davysteak]

Over their heads.

[@theexile6605]

I'm just glad he didn't title the book, "Jefferson and the Art of Naval Power." Ha. "We don't need a blue water navy, we just need gunboats!" Brilliant. How come Meacham always titles his books with the word "power?" Is it like O'Reilly and the word "killing" every time?

[@SemperFidelis0229]

I notice you used many big words in your original comment, which I'm sure you didn't even know the meanings of, and then, in your second one, you simplified your vocabulary... Both of your comments are wrong, I just found the difference between the two interesting.

[@eliziskin6021]

You know when a conception of history is immature, when you hear what should or shouldn't have been done. Or assuming what a person of the past think about the present.

[@zsedcftglkjh]

+Eli Ziskin Amen. I get this every week in my Masters history class. The professor says "it is important for us not to impose our 21st sensibilities on the past" right before he calls Abraham Lincoln a modern day communist or the tent revivals of the great awakenings equivalent to modern day rock concerts. So damn lazy.

[@mevenstien]

Ther dilemma of our time is the same as its been for the last hundred years .why are coroporations allowed to exert influence upon our government in any way, shape, or form? Why is the Federal Reserve Bank here,why is the Federal Reserve Bank setting the value of our money ,why is the Federal Reserve Bank lending us our own money at interest? Yes there are more issues but these two issues unresolved are destroying America and have been for over a hundred years now. 🇺🇸 U.S. Constitution article1 section 8 is the cornerstone of protection for U.S. citizens . The Constitution was not defended and we lost it. It must be restored.

[@nickharris2120]

read Meacham's new book.. the Art of the Fop

[@ninxoon30]

OH please. U would have a drink with Jefferson because you wrote a book about him. And why write a book about Jeff and not say, Washington or Hamilton? Well, aside from countless bios of this formidable founding fathers, there is the 'good looks factor'. Sure Hamilton is better looking than Jeff, but honestly--Ham looks like a girly pretty guy-- Jeff is more rugged and manly. Not to mention, Jefferson is Mr. Controversial. A great subject for a book. He preached abolition yet he owned slaves. (not to mention slept with Sally and produced a brood) He quoted the bible several times yet he was agnostic or at least deity. Personally, I am looking forward to read the book, I hope your wrote more about the relationship between Ham and Jeff--via Washington. H & J would bicker over attention for Washington like two mistresses and W would always have to please each one separately. Lovely.

[@dennislurvey3235]

Meacham is such a cool head, but too cool at times. He doesn't say anything newsworthy, the quiet part out loud. He glossed over that Jefferson was an atheist and that he was obsessive compulsive. He was so cautious to not say anything slanderous he almost didn't say anything at all.

[@rebeccasmith9536]

Washington , D. C. (Don't Care is what D.C. stands for, concerning Americans!

[@finalfrontier001]

America never had absolutism

[@TimMillernapavalleyfilmworks]

yawn, i tried reading art of power. I usually try to stay with clay jenkinson. Jefferson hour 👍

[@SemperFidelis0229]

How does that connect with me having no life, exactly? lol

[@robdow6348]

Defining Jefferson by slavery is a rather weak argument. Unless Jon thinks the civil war should have occurred…before we’re a full formed republic. Jon lost me in the climate change virtue signaling. My belief is climate change agenda is morphed from the demise of communism.

[@CC-jl7jz]

I agree.

[@Pandajerk86]

Jefferson wouldn't have loved Google that's some bullshit

[@Highlyskeptical]

I think Google should promote the following 2 things to utterly change the world forever for the average Joe; 1. Automated Quality of Life Use automation and software with renewable sustainable energy and materials to provide a minimum comfortable quality of life for all active citizens (voting, know issues, understands how civilization works and how/why we got here) providing food, water, shelter, electricity, internet, transportation, and anything else necessary for a healthy society so that we have a "passion-based economy", where citizens use their precious minutes on Earth pursuing passions and maybe (but not necessarily) making money (new robot software program, new music/art, etc). A birthright of every human to escape the trap of lost time to acquire basic resources, a fate we've suffered from before caveman times to the 40 hour/week lost time until 65 if lucky today. 2. Indeterminate Life Spans Use biotech to make organs/all body parts except the brain(bladders/heart tissue done now) and relengthen telomeres to substantially prolong existence, giving active citizens the choice of how long they want to pursue their passions. Would require a "1 person chooses to cease to exist/1 person is born" mentality or colonizing new planets to avoid starvation from exponential growth. "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." Thomas Jefferson

[@bdm1000]

Jon Meacham is an excellent writer and presenter and could have been a wonderful historian. His depiction of Jefferson is a smear in my opinion (as much as could be depicted of such a great man). In a way most Jefferson scholars modify Jefferson one way or another, but you're always closer to the real Jefferson actually studying primary source material written by Jefferson or the people who knew him, but that does not seem to be how Meacham forms his OPINIONS. No one should walk away from a history lecture believing everything told was fact (or even most of what was told).

[@CC-jl7jz]

Meacham is WOKE!

[@davj1586]

Poor guy willfully chooses to exclude the heritage of faith Jefferson believed

[@mogem]

How was this guy able to make a speech about an immensely important character so damn boring? Is his writing as bad?

[@thewimpyburger]

first.. sorry

[@carolbennett1427]

Turns out I think meacham is a sell out. I find him a shallow person

[@CC-jl7jz]

He sold out to the Marxist Democrats not realizing he means nothing to them. He's just a useful tool.