Adams and Jefferson no letters for 11 years
Between 24 March 1801 and 1 January 1812, there is no correspondence between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
"a blind, bald, crippled, toothless man who is a hideous hermaphroditic character with neither the force and fitness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman."
"a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father."
Thomas Jefferson wrote this about 1 year before he and Adams stopped corresponding for roughly 11 years.
From Thomas Jefferson to William Hamilton, 22 April 1800:
"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend. during the whole of the last war, which was trying enough, I never deserted a friend because he had taken an opposite side; and those of my own state who joined the British government can attest my unremitting zeal in saving their property, and can point out the laws in our statute books which I drew, and carried through in their favor. however I have seen during the late political2 paroxysm here, numbers whom I had highly esteemed draw off from me, insomuch as to cross the street to avoid meeting me. the fever is abating, & doubtless some of them will correct the momentary wanderings of their heart, & return again. if they do, they will meet the constancy of my esteem, & the same oblivion of this as of any other delirium which might happen to them."
That's it.
That's our lead story.
Answers to those questions?
Read the rest of the story in this blog.
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Read bits and pieces.
Compiled and researched by Jim Moyer 2015, updated 11/6/2024
Table of Contents
From a CNN piece:
Adams was elected vice president under George Washington while Jefferson was appointed secretary of state. It was here that their kinship began to splinter.
After Washington chose not to seek a third term, a power vacuum formed. Adams and Jefferson ran against each other, split on issues like their views of the French Revolution.
Adams squeaked by with three more electoral votes and won the presidency. In an awkward technicality, the 1796 system called for the second-place contender to become vice president.
Adams asked Jefferson to join him in forming a strong, bipartisan administration. But Jefferson turned him down.
Then enemies
In 1800, Jefferson and Adams faced off again. Things got nasty.
Members of Jefferson’s camp said Adams had a “hideous hermaphroditical character,” while Adams’ supporters called Jefferson “a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow.” (Despite the vitriol, there was no mention of nasty women or deplorables.)
Jefferson won, and Adams was bitter. He left town and skipped the inauguration ceremony.
The rivals didn’t speak for 12 years.
Finally, frenemies
Another Founding Father, eager to reunite the two statesmen, hatched a plan to bring them back together. Benjamin Rush, a civic leader and fellow Declaration signer, wrote to both men, saying the other wanted to rekindle their friendship. (And thus a timeless comedy trope was born).
Rush sealed the deal by telling them he had a dream in which they revitalized their friendship through letter-writing before they later “sunk into the grave nearly at the same time, full of years and rich in the gratitude and praises of their country.”
He kind of nailed it.
In 1812, the two started writing again and eventually mailed more than 185 letters to each other. But their friendship was still tense at times and their political divisions remained ripe.
A year after their communication was reopened, Adams wrote, “You and I ought not to die before we have explained ourselves to each other.”
Over the next few years, a tenderness crept back into the founders’ relationship. As he grew older, Jefferson even wrote, “Crippled wrists and fingers make writing slow and laborious. But while writing to you, I lose the sense of these things, in the recollection of ancient times, when youth and health made happiness out of everything.”
We’ll never know exactly where they stood in the end or what Adams was thinking on that fateful Fourth of July 192 years ago. But we know that Jefferson was on his mind until his last moments.
A month later, wordsmith Daniel Webster was called to deliver a joint eulogy. In commemoration of July Fourth and the life of the two politicians, he said:
“Adams and Jefferson are no more. On our 50th anniversary, the great day of national jubilee, in the very hour of public rejoicing, in the midst of echoing and re-echoing voices of thanksgiving, while their own names were on all tongues, they took their flight together to the world of spirits.”
Is all of this CNN piece correct?
Did Jefferson call Adams a hermaphrodite?
"a blind, bald, crippled, toothless man who is a hideous hermaphroditic character with neither the force and fitness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman."
Not true.
Jefferson never wrote this. James Callender did. But Jefferson gave approval to such writing.
Source?
646–647 John Adams Hardcover – Deckle Edge, May 22, 2001 by David McCullough (Author)
Did Adams call Jefferson this?
"a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father."
Not true.
Yes, this was on a Federalist handbill. And yes, Adams never denounced such language aimed at his opponent.
But John Adams didn't write it.
Sources?
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Letters between Adams and Jefferson
351From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
In order to save you the trouble and expence of purchasing horses & carriages, which will not be...
352To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 20 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
In order to save you the trouble and Expence of purchasing Horses and Carriages, which will not...
353To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 8 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
Th. Jefferson presents his respects to Mr. Adams and incloses him a letter which came to his...
354From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 8 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to mr Adams and incloses him a letter which came to his hands...
355From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 24 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of March 8 with the Letter inclosed, for which I thank you. Inclosed is a...
356To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 24 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recd your favour of March 8 with the Letter inclosed, for which I thank you. Inclosed is a...
357From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
As you are a Friend to American Manufactures under proper restrictions, especially Manufactures...
358Resumption of Correspondence with John Adams, followed by John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
As you are a Friend to American Manufactures under proper restrictions, especially Manufactures...
359To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 21 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
I thank you before hand (for they are not yet arrived) for the specimens of homespun you have...
360Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 21 January 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you before hand (for they are not yet arrived) for the specimens of homespun you have...
All correspondence between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
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