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Let’s get a few things straight about writing the Declaration of Independence. First of all, it wasn’t the founding fathers’ top priority. By early 1776, America had pretty much broken up with King George, but since it was a long-distance relationship, the nation felt the need to make it official on paper. Second, getting to write it wasn’t really an honor. Thomas Jefferson was the newbie and, at 33, the second-youngest guy in Congress. And because the elder statesmen had more important things to do, like forging alliances with France and Spain, Jefferson got the job because no one else wanted it.
Regardless, Jefferson poured his heart and soul into the document. He spent days holed up in a second-story Philadelphia apartment, scratching away with his quill. And in that time, the sensitive, fiery redhead grew deeply attached to every sentence. After the manuscript hit the floor of Congress for debate, Jefferson slumped in his chair and sulked as his colleagues argued over it. They only cut about one-quarter of his words, but Jefferson felt they’d “mangled” his baby.
Among the edits were some of the more serious passages, like a section that dealt with the evils of slavery. But Congress 
also cut out much of the melodrama. Jefferson wrote of the British, “Manly spirit bids us to renounce forever these unfeeling brethren. We must endeavor to forget our former love for them.” Harsh, no? Typical break-up letter material, but harsh.
Jefferson remained bitter about Congress’ edits for years, but his ego eventually healed. By the end of his life, he was taking measures to ensure that “Author of the Declaration of American Independence” would be engraved on his tombstone.
Thomas Jefferson’s (Somewhat Unorthodox) Pursuit of Happiness
For Jefferson, the pursuit of happiness often meant breaking the rules.
His Five-Finger Discount: While serving as ambassador to France, Jefferson discovered that Italian rice was tastier than American rice. Always looking for ways to improve U.S. agriculture, Jefferson figured he’d just cross the Alps to pick some up. Easier said than done. The Italians wanted to protect their crop from foreign competition, so taking rice out of the country was punishable by death. Instead of heeding the law, a cavalier Jefferson stuffed his pockets with the grains and then hired a mule-driver to smuggle two sacks of the stuff into France. He then brought the rice back to the United States, where it’s still grown today.
His Slacker Style: When Jefferson became president, he never wanted to be confused as a king. He wouldn’t let visitors bow to him, and thereby inadvertently began the custom of presidential handshakes. Further, dinner at the White House was always an informal affair, and Jefferson often showed up sweating in his riding clothes. Stranger still, when a British minister once paid him a visit at the White House, the casual president simply answered the door in his pajamas.
Jenny Drapkin is the Senior Editor of mental_floss magazine. This concludes our serialization of “All The Presidents’ Secrets,” her fantastic feature from the September-October 2007 issue. (Would you care to subscribe?)
Previous Installments: Andrew Johnson, Rutherford B. Hayes, Calvin Coolidge, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Andrew Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt.
Comments (11)
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finally, a president featured who doesn’t seem like he was bat-shit crazy :)
posted by ashley on 4-24-2008 at 7:30 am
Thanks for this series, it was one of my favoriates. I am so sorry to see it go. :-(
posted by Witty Nickname on 4-24-2008 at 8:23 am
Too “see” how the writing of the Declaration was foisted on Jefferson check out the musical 1776. It’s amazing what went on back then. And although a play/movie most of it is incredibly accurate!
posted by beth on 4-24-2008 at 9:19 am
Awww, that’s it???? I want more!! Great series, I really enjoyed it.
posted by Valerie on 4-24-2008 at 10:23 am
Great series. Very sorry to see it go. I was hoping for something on all of the presidents. There are so many more to cover. Can’t you continue it?????:)
posted by Fran on 4-24-2008 at 10:45 am
my favorite bit of trivia about him is that later on in life, he was heavily in debt. congress tried to start some kind of subscription service for him, but that didn’t work, so they offered to buy his library from him for the library of congress. Instead of paying off his debts with the money, Jefferson used it to–what else–replace his books.
posted by jenni on 4-24-2008 at 10:51 am
Jefferson did greet the British minister in his pajamas – in an attempt to insult him. Jefferson hated the Merrys with unmitigated passion, going so far as to publicly snub Mrs. Merry at their welcoming dinner party. Jefferson also never invited Federalists (I think – I get them confused) to his dinner parties at the White House – it was up to his Secretary of State, James Madison, and Dolley Madison to hold “bipartisan” affairs.
posted by MJSamuelson on 4-24-2008 at 2:18 pm
Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence is at the American Philosophical Society library in Philly, right next to Independence Hall. I know this because I just did a paper on my visit there for one of my library school classes. Yay nerds! :)
Link in my name, if anyone is interested…..
posted by Kate on 4-24-2008 at 6:22 pm
Shoot! I was hoping for more of these as well.
Good job.
posted by Karen on 4-24-2008 at 7:07 pm
Beth mentions a great movie musical with her comment regarding 1776. Ken Howard did nice work portraying Jefferson. There were some inaccuracies regarding his character from Edward’s script however.
The sexual “burning” that Jefferson sings of when yearning to return to Virginia to see his wife Martha; and even being featured in the movie (Blythe Danner) is conveniently misconstrued. You see, during the summer of 1776 Martha had suffered a miscarriage and was very ill. That was the reason for Jefferson’s desperation to get out of Philadelphia. In fact, Martha did not travel to Philadelphia in that summer.
When Jefferson became President in 1801, he had been a widower for 19 years. The Martha Jefferson that is credited as his First Lady was Martha Washington Jefferson Randolph (nicknamed Patsy).
posted by Matty on 4-24-2008 at 7:30 pm
Want to read two amazing books about the American Revolution check out ‘Rise to Rebellion’ and ‘The Glorious Cause’ by Jeff Shaara.
posted by Glenn on 8-25-2008 at 8:31 am