#1672 President Jefferson Discusses America at 250

Listening to America

History, Politics, Unitedstates, Society & Culture, American

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2025

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Guest host David Horton talks with President Thomas Jefferson about the United States as the nation approaches its 250th birthday. Horton asks Jefferson to explain his vision of America, to assess its successes and failures in his own time, and then to observe and reflect on the United States today. Aside from a ruinous and swelling national debt, Jefferson seemed most concerned by the breakdown of the “checks and balances” that are vital to the survival of a republic. Other topics included the true meaning of the phrase “pursuit of happiness,” America’s place in the world, the loss of civics and ethical training in our schools, and the death of family agriculture. Mr. Jefferson affirmed that July 4, 1776, is one of the most important dates in human history, possibly the most important date in the history of liberty. He was quick to add, however, that he did not mean to call attention to himself in invoking the Fourth of July. This episode was recorded on September 13, 2025.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This week on listening to America with Clay Jenkinson, Jefferson on America at 250.
0:07.0	Guest host David Horton informs Mr. Jefferson that the United States is now about 250 years old and that we still say we revere the founding fathers.
0:16.0	Horton asked Jefferson to explain his vision of America to to assess its successes and failures in his own time,
0:22.6	and then to observe and reflect on the United States today, using his own accustomed metrics for judging the national experiment.
0:29.6	Aside from the ruinous and swelling national death, Jefferson seemed most concerned by the breakdown of the Checks and Balances Doctrine
0:36.6	that is vital to the survival of a
0:38.9	republic. Mr. Jefferson affirmed that July 4th 1776 is one of the most important dates in human
0:44.6	history, possibly the most important date in the history of liberty. He was quick to add, however,
0:49.3	that he did not mean to call attention to himself in invoking the 4th of July. All of that and more on this
0:55.5	week's Listening to America.
1:03.8	Good day, citizens, and welcome to Listening to America with Clay Jenkinson. I'm David Horton. I have
1:10.3	the honor of serving as your guest
1:12.0	co-host today from Radford University here in Southwest Virginia, Radford, Virginia. And listening
1:18.4	to America, wonderful show, absolutely fantastic with diverse topics across our nation. But even
1:24.7	though the Thomas Jefferson Hour really doesn't exist in the way that it did for many,
1:29.8	many years, listeners have been clamoring for more conversations with Mr. Jefferson.
1:35.0	So today, we are here to help you in that respect.
1:38.1	We have with us the third president of the United States.
1:41.9	And welcome, Mr. President.
1:43.6	We are going to enjoy a lovely
1:45.0	conversation with you. Good day to you, my dear citizen. You know, we are very near the 250th
1:51.9	birthday of the United States America. July 4th, 2026 will mark 250 years of this great American
	...

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