Thomas Jefferson: The other “precedent President”?

 

Consider the following:

 

Peaceful transfer of power from one PARTY to another

 

No clean sweep of government upon party change “few resign, none die”

 

No clean sweep of policies either:

    Excise tax, Judiciary Act 1801 repealed

    Repealed Naturalization Act

    Pardoned sedition Act convicts

 

Purchase of Louisiana: Use of Implied powers

 

Republican simplicity

    Clerk reads messages to Congress

    Pell mell seating at official dinners

   

Impeachment of Justice Chase: last real attempt to mold court through impeachment

 

Reduction of debt : debt is a curse

 

Change to small boat, coastal defense navy

 

Opened the “road” to Oregon and added territory for the future “gentlemen farmers”

 

Dealt with secessionist schemes: (See Aaron Burr, James Wilkinson)

 

Continuation of neutrality

 

Use of Embargo, and strict enforcement of it

 

Two terms and out: “splendid misery”