Thomas Jefferson - A Film by Ken Burns (1996)

The complicated life of Thomas Jefferson is the subject of this excellent documentary by noted filmmaker Ken Burns. Using techniques that will seem comfortably familiar to viewers of other films by Burns, historians and writers (including Joseph Ellis, Daniel Boorstin, Garry Wills, and Gore Vidal) appear on camera to speak about Jefferson, a cast of actors read the words of Jefferson and others. The visuals include beautifully photographed shots of Jefferson's famed estate, Monticello, other locations where Jefferson lived and worked, and a vast number of period drawings and paintings. Jefferson, who was born into a prosperous Virginia family but lost his father when he was young, became a skilled lawyer despite his natural shyness. And the story of how he became a public figure and rose to prominence during the American Revolution is told intelligently. Commentators, including the noted African American historian John Hope Franklin, grapple with the peculiar inconsistencies of Jefferson's life. The man who wrote the Declaration of Independence owned slaves, and some of what he wrote about race is both troubling and puzzling. This film (which covers Jefferson's entire life, including his two terms as the young country's president and his later years in Virginia) doesn't sidestep controversy but provides a balanced account of one of the most fascinating of all Americans. --Robert J. McNamara Amazon.com

Ken Burns Does History Well

The DVD was informative and engaging. Burns utilizes the most compelling narrators and resources to substatiate his effort. His history becomes dramatic, multi-faceted, and memorable. May 29, 2008

Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence. As president, he made the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon and sent Lewis and Clark to open the west. They left St. Louis and headed up the Missouri River. They took on an interpreter named Charbonneau and his Indian wife, Sacagawea. They reached the Columbia River and sailed to the Pacific Ocean in a three year journey. Thomas Jefferson was a scientist and a product of the Enlightenment.

March 29, 2008

an inspiring film

As with most of Ken Burns' projects, I really enjoyed this film. I've noticed some reviewers faulting it as incomplete in some respects, and although I'm no expert on the subject, I don't doubt that this is not the whole story. I do think the film does a good job of providing insight into the life and thinking of a truly amazing man, and I doubt whether it would be possible to capture on film all that we know about Jefferson from existing literature, even if we were talking about a multi-volume DVD set. In my opinion this film excels in its potential to help spark an interest among viewers about the man and his times. I wouldn't be surprised if this film will lead many to dig deeper, picking up a book or two and learning more. Personally, I was amazed that there is so much information included in this single DVD. Well worth the time spent viewing, more than once. September 9, 2007

"Thomas Jefferson still lives."

"The principle of society with us is the equal rights of all. Nobody shall be above you nor you above anybody." Such words of Jefferson's are the reason why John Adams last words (on July 4, 1826), "Jefferson still lives," were still correct notwithstanding that Jefferson had passed away unbeknownst to the Adams household but hours before. Jefferson biographer Joseph Ellis is quoted herein: "Part of Jefferson's genius was to articulate at a sufficiently abstract level these principles, these truths that we all want to believe in" notwithstanding "that these truths, at some level, are unattainable and at another level mutually exclusive. Perfect Freedom does not lead to perfect equality, usually leads to inequality."

"He was a statesman," a "reluctant politician." "He was a farmer," and "a lover of fine wine" the program informs us multiple times. Jefferson characterized himself as "a scientist first, a farmer second, a statesman reluctantly." But of this connoisseur of fine imported wines, the program later informs us of this: "often he diluted his wine with water." Sounds like the epitome of the paradox that is Jefferson. Consider the following: For his inauguration Jefferson "wore a plain suit and shoes that tied because he considered buckles undemocratic." Yet Jefferson excused the terror of the French Revolution in the spirit that ends exonerated undesirable means to various individuals.

And then there's Jefferson's behavior relating to the enslavement of people with darker skin than his; his calls for emancipation, for proposals on the issue while neglecting to take much if any personal action...........and if the Hemmings business is true (more about this qualifier in a second) makes a complete mockery of all his theorizing, proposals, and puts a black eye (pun intended) on his championing of equality for all. Evidence has come to light since this program was made showing a DNA link between some of the descendants of Sally Hemmings and the Jefferson family. A committee appointed by The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which runs Monticello concluded "it is very unlikely that any Jefferson other than Thomas Jefferson was the father of [Hemmings's six] children." If he did take advantage of this woman, perhaps over many years, and not then free her in his will that's despicable is it not? This program, however, only devotes 6 minutes to this whole Hemmings matter; a segment which concludes with these words by historian John Hope Franklin (whose ancestors might have been slaves themselves): "It doesn't really matter whether he slept with her or not." How could it not matter as it would make a mockery of almost everything Jefferson ever said about slavery. ("Most likely" is not enough for me, however. Even if the odds and conjecture suggest otherwise, perhaps the DNA in some---but interestingly, not in all---of Hemming's descendants came from Jefferson's brother or nephews and this is why these slaves were freed by Jefferson. After all, why did Jefferson free all 4 of Sally Hemmings's surviving children, but not Sally herself upon Jefferson's death?)

In addition, in this almost 3 hour program on the man who so expanded the size of the United States almost no mention is made of American Indians; save such fare as this: "But despite his lifelong interest in native culture, Jefferson believed that white settlement was more important and encouraged the removal of nearly all the Eastern Indians from their homelands to the West." How about simply omitting "But despite his lifelong interest in native culture."

Likewise the supposition that "events overseas, along with his own stubbornness, insured that his second term would be marked by few successes" is a statement that excuses too much. "Events overseas" hardly engender American failure. (The great American presidents, almost without exception, have achieved the moniker "Great" by rising to the challenge of extraordinary developments, often overseas.) Jefferson's self-imposed embargo on the export of all American goods is, however, characterized honestly: "it was a disaster," this program informs us; besides criticizing Jefferson for having merchantmen ordered arrested and their ships searched without warrants. Maybe this is why Jefferson's self-written gravestone pointedly omits his executive experience (as well as his prior executive experience: "In 1779 Jefferson was selected war governor of Virginia. His tenure soon proved a nightmare.")

"It would take many years before the American people knew that Jefferson had written the most important document in their history." Imagine for a moment if we never did. But thank God Jefferson jumped at the opportunity to secure the expansive Louisiana Territory; a move that justifies Jefferson's inclusion at Mount Rushmore even if that was the only thing we knew about this complicated individual, who seemed to embody the human failings and creative genius that epitomize the grandness of life. Cheers July 18, 2007

Overreaching psychoanalysis with very little hisorical substance

I recently checked out this DVD from the library as I am currently reading the six volume biography of Jefferson by Dumas Malone (I am currently well into the fifth volume) and thought this would provide some additional visual references. This film certainly seems to be in line with the recent trend in biography towards psychoanalysis, of which this film, in my opinion, vastly overreaches itself, and is barebones on real facts and history. While Jefferson is certainly not a straightforward individual to understand, I do not believe he is the enigma that this film claims him to be. Certainly Jefferson's statements and writings assert strongly ideological ideas that were not always in line with the actions of his political and personal life, but this is by no means a rare human quality, especially in politics. Indeed, had Jefferson been an uncompromising ideologue, such as congressman John Randolph - his rival in the democratic-republican party of the time, he would have been roundly criticized for being aloof from reality. Jefferson held strong guiding principles, but recognized that pragmatism and compromise would be required to avoid jeopardizing the long term success of his ideals and the American experiment.

I also believe this biography overreaches in its portrayal of Jefferson as a tragic figure. It is certainly true that Jefferson lost many close friends and relatives throughout his life, including his father at an early age, his wife when she was still very young, his closest friend, and five of his six children before his death, but this is not extraordinary given the time period, nor do I think a strong argument can be made that these events significantly influenced Jefferson's thoughts, republican ideals, or actions.

Ultimately, I believe that presently much of the analysis of Jefferson is inevitably biased by academics (who make up most of the analysts on this film and certainly a large portion of those who support PBS) current aversion to the classic liberalism (what we would today call libertarianism) and limited government that Jefferson espoused. Had Jefferson been an ardent supporter of Federalism, I believe he would have received much more favorable analysis by these same analysts, such as Alexander Hamilton receives today. While the criticism of Jefferson in this film is certainly valid, the bias is due to the omission of counterpoints this film avoids mentioning.

Even without considering these criticims, this film is so barebones in its presentation of real history that no one, regardless of their political persuasion, could hope to form a valid opinion of Jefferson based upon watching it. There is strong disconnect between the college level of psychoanalysis this film advances and the elementary school level of historical narrative it presents. July 15, 2007

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