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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.


Skip around.

Read bits and pieces.




Compiled and researched by Jim Moyer 2015, updated 11/6/2024, 11/25/2024



Table of Contents







 

Did Jefferson reach out first ?

Or did Adam reach out first?



John Adams is the first to resume contact. John Adams writes to Thomas Jefferson first in 1812.


But, Thomas Jefferson put out a feeler to Benjamin West in 1811. And Benjamin West forwarded Jefferon's thoughts to John Adams in the letter below:


To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 16 December 1811

Philadelphia Decemr 16. 1811.


My dear Old friend

Mr Jefferson and I exchange letters Once in six, nine or twelve Months.


This day I received a few lines from him in which he introduces your Name in the following Words.


After mentioning the Visit paid to you by his two neighbours—the Messrs Coles last summer he [ JEFFERSON ] adds,


“Among Other things he [Mr Adams] adverted to the unprincipled licenciousness of the press against myself—adding—I always loved Jefferson, and still love him. This is eno’ for me. I only needed this knowledge to revive towards him all the Affections of the most cordial moments of our lives. It is known to those Who have heard me speak of Mr: Adams that I have ever done him justice myself, & defended him When assailed by Others with the Single exception as to his political Opinions, but with a man possessing so many estimable Qualities, Why should we be seperated by mere differences of Opinion in politicks, Religion, philosophy or any thing else. His Opinions are as honestly formed as my own. Our different Views of the same subjects are the results of the difference in our organization & experience. I have never withdrawn from any man upon that Acct:, Altho’ many have done it from me, much less should I do it from One with whom I had gone thro’, with hand and heart so many trying Scenes. I wish therefore for an Apposite Occasion to express to Mr Adams my unchanged Affection for him. There is an Awkwardness which hangs over the resuming a Correspondence to long discontinued unless Something should arise which should call for a letter. Time and Chance may perhaps generate Such an Occasion, of which I shall not be wanting in promptitude to avail myself.”


And now my dear friend,—permit me Again to suggest to you,—to receive the Olive branch which has thus been offered to you by the hand of a Man who still loves you.


Fellow labourers in creating the great fabric of American Independance,

Fellow Sufferers in the Calumnies and falsehoods of party rage!—

Fellow heirs Of the gratitude, and Affection of posterity!—

and Fellow passengers in a stage that must shortly Convey you both into the presence of a Judge with whom the forgiveness and love of enemies is the condition of Acceptance,—

embrace—embrace each Other!—

Bedew your letters of reconcilliation with tears of Affection and joy.—

Bury in Silence all the Causes of your seperation.

Recollect that explanations may be proper between lovers, but are never so between divided friends.


Were I near to you I would put a pen into your hand, and guide it, while it composed the following short Address to Mr: Jefferson.


“My dear Old friend, Friend and fellow labourer in the Cause of the liberty and independance of our Common Country, I salute you with the most cordial good Wishes for your health and happiness.

John Adams"


Excuse the liberty I have taken, and be assured of the respect,

Affection & gratitude of / yours truly


Benjn: Rush.


MHi: Adams Papers.





There were no letters between John Adams and Benjamin West from 1790 to 1805.

There were no letters between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson from 24 March 1801 and 1 January 1812.


See Adams's first letter resuming contact with Benjamin West:







 

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


In order to save you the trouble and expence of purchasing horses & carriages, which will not be...

In order to save you the trouble and Expence of purchasing Horses and Carriages, which will not...

Th. Jefferson presents his respects to Mr. Adams and incloses him a letter which came to his...

Th: Jefferson presents his respects to mr Adams and incloses him a letter which came to his hands...

I have recd your favour of March 8 with the Letter inclosed, for which I thank you. Inclosed is a...

I have recd your favour of March 8 with the Letter inclosed, for which I thank you. Inclosed is a...


As you are a Friend to American Manufactures under proper restrictions, especially Manufactures...

As you are a Friend to American Manufactures under proper restrictions, especially Manufactures...

I thank you before hand (for they are not yet arrived) for the specimens of homespun you have...

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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