Monticello - Photo by Clay S. Jenkinson
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This Week's Show "Constitution Redux"
Show 971 "Constitution Redux" (5-13-12)
In show 968 "A New Constitution", President Jefferson discussed his thoughts on the need for updating our constitution every generation. The show generated many questions and comments and this week is devoted to presenting those questions and further discussion.
Jefferson's letter to Madison on the subject, written on September 6, 1789, the entire letter can be read here. In this letter, Jefferson writes:
On similar ground it may be proved that no society can make a perpetual constitution, or even a perpetual law. The earth belongs always to the living generation. They may manage it then, and what proceeds from it, as they please, during their usufruct. They are masters too of their own persons, and consequently may govern them as they please. But persons and property make the sum of the objects of government. The constitution and the laws of their predecessors extinguished then in their natural course with those who gave them being. This could preserve that being till it ceased to be itself, and no longer. Every constitution then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force, and not of right.
To read the entire letter click HERE
Available now - Clay Jenkinson's new book
The Character of Meriwether Lewis:
Explorer in the Wilderness
Available from Fort Mandan, Amazon, or your favorite bookstore.
Click here to visit Clay's Sandbox page to read an excerpt from the book
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If you have comments or questions for Mr. Jefferson, click on the above image: "Ask Thomas Jefferson a Question". Also - you can now call the Thomas Jefferson Hour and leave your question for the President on voicemail. Call 701-221-2425.
Books coming up for discussion on The Thomas Jefferson Hour
Clay will be discussing these books in future episodes. If you have read the book and have a question or comment about it, please click on "Ask a Question" and send it to us.
The Jefferson-Hemings Controversy
Report of the Scholars Commission
Edited by: Robert F. Turner
Order The Jefferson-Hemmings Controversy directly from:
"In 2000, the newly formed Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society asked a group of more than a dozen senior scholars from across the country to carefully examine all of the evidence for and against the allegations that Thomas Jefferson fathered one or more children by Sally Hemings, one of his slaves, and to issue a public report. In April 2001, after a year of study, the Scholars Commission issued the most detailed report to date on the issue."
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New addition to the 35 Words Project was posted - Fijian.
Our thanks to Karen Dunne for the recording.
Things you'll find on this website:
Read Clay's weekly column
Find multilingual versions of the "35 Words"
Hear this week's edition of "What Would Jefferson Do"
Watch video of Clay Jenkinson in performance
Watch a video on the Cultural Tours Page
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If you have comments or questions for Mr. Jefferson, click on the above image: "Ask Thomas Jefferson a Question". Also - you can now call the Thomas Jefferson Hour and leave your question for the President on voicemail.
Call 701-221-2425.
Thanks for your questions and comments, and thank you for listening.
About the Thomas Jefferson Hour
The Thomas Jefferson Hour® is a weekly radio program and podcast dedicated to the search for truth in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson. Each week President Jefferson (as portrayed by the award winning humanities scholar, cultural commentator and author Clay Jenkinson) answers questions about his time, his beliefs and shares his knowledge of early America.
Nationally known as a first person interpreter and scholar of Thomas Jefferson, Jenkinson answers listener questions and shares his thoughts while in the persona of Thomas Jefferson. Clay's portrayal of Jefferson comes from a lifetime of study and thought devoted to all things Jefferson.