Similarities Between Nixon And Thomas Jefferson

1)

Ambrose argues that Thomas Jefferson had “a great mind and a limited character” because of his contradictory views on slavery. In the early 1800’s slavery was a controversial issue, but Thomas Jefferson knew the solution. Thomas Jefferson believed “slavery was wrong” (2), and he “hoped and expected Virginians… would abolish slavery,” (2) he wanted to end slavery, understanding it would benefit America. Stubbornly, he refused to implement it into his lifestyle. Jefferson was a wealthy slave owner and was known to “profit from the institution” (2). Do flaws of a person’s character diminish their accomplishments? John Green, creator of Crash Course, implies a similar connection between Thomas Jefferson and Richard Nixon. John Green states

that “no one remembers Richard Nixon for starting the EPA,” implying that a person’s character flaws outweigh their accomplishments. Jefferson was a blatant racist, in his writing he speaks of African-Americans as lower than everyone else, and he used this to “justify slavery.” Thomas Jefferson’s pride and character limit the good he can do for society as he “didn’t have the courage to lead the way to emancipation” (1), and he died hoping the next generation would solve the issue. Jefferson surrendered his character and wasted his prodigious mind to prejudice and money.