Actor Sam Waterston provides the voice of Thomas Jefferson in this documentary that tells the story of a remarkable yet contradictory man. Detailed portraits and paintings, original architectural drawings and excerpts from Jefferson's journals, letters, scientific papers and political writings reveal the breathtaking range of his achievements and the challenging paradoxes in his character. When's it on? Visit the Site What do you think is Thomas Jefferson's greatest accomplishment? For what does Jefferson deserve respect? Condemnation? On the final balance sheet, do his achievements outweigh his shortcomings? Why do you think Jefferson declined to list the presidency among the accomplishments inscribed on his gravestone? What does Jefferson's continual rebuilding of Monticello suggest about him? DNA evidence proves only that Sally Hemings' offspring were fathered by someone in the Jefferson line. Should Hemings' descendants be permitted burial at Monticello (as Jefferson's direct descendants are)? Even though Jefferson used the words "slavery" and "enslavement" when protesting British dominion over the American colonies, he never freed his own slaves. What does this say about him? What do you think "pursuit of happiness" means? Everyone agrees that Jefferson's influence resonates to this day. How can you explain his appeal to people at opposite ends of the political spectrum (e.g. George Will and Gore Vidal)? Why do you think Jefferson, despite his convictions and denunciation of European "corruption," fell in love with Paris and Parisian culture? One of the historians interviewed calls Jefferson "the greatest enigma in American history." Is there any other political figure who could challenge him for this title?
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