Jefferson and Jackson in the 1828 Campaign
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996
From: Rob Forbes
Subject: TJ QUERY
I recall reading (probably in the campaign hype for Jackson in 1828) that Thomas Jefferson had described Andrew Jackson as having had "more of the Roman" than any other American. The quote does not appear in the Ford edition of Jefferson's letters. Does anyone have a citation for it either a) from Jefferson himself, or b) from someone else quoting Jefferson?
Thanks,
Rob Forbes
Co-Editor, H-SHEAR
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 1996
From: Michael Chesson
It does indeed sound like campaign hype. Seem to recall that Jefferson and Andy Jackson did not exactly see eye to eye, though the younger man may not have known exactly what the older said or thought about him. Why not check the index in the appropriate volume of Malone for starters? I'd bet you could find more negative about jackson from Jefferson than positive, but I may be mistaken.
Michael Chesson
Univ. of Massachusetts-Boston
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 1996
From: Alex O. Boulton
On Jefferson's impressions of Jackson see Merrill Peterson's _Jefferson Image in the American Mind_, the first chapter. Sorry there is no reference there to Jackson being "Roman."
Alex O. Boulton
Villa Julie College
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996
From: Tom Powers
If Jefferson really said Jackson had "more of the Roman" about him, I doubt he meant it as a compliment. Remember that Jefferson, and others of his generation, always feared an American Caesar who would do to this republic what Caesar had done to the Roman.
Tom Powers
Professor of History
The University of South Carolina at Sumter
Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996
From: Stephen J. Barry
>>>I recall reading (probably in the campaign hype for Jackson in 1828) that Thomas Jefferson had described Andrew Jackson as having had "more of the Roman" than any other American. The quote does not appear in the Ford edition of Jefferson's letters. Does anyone have a citation for it either a) from Jefferson himself, or b) from someone else quoting Jefferson?<<<
I don't recall the letter. But I do recall an 1826 letter (Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Macon, March 24, 1826, Thomas Jefferson Papers, LC.) in which Jefferson credits Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina as being "the noblest Roman." It may be that this letter was used in 1828.
Stephen J. Barry
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