1804, Jefferson vs. Pinckney: The People’s President
American Elections: Wicked Game
Airship
4.8 • 3.2K Ratings
🗓️ 29 October 2019
⏱️ 42 minutes
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| 0:00.0 | It's summer, 1801. |
| 0:15.0 | Secretary of State James Madison sit at his desk in the State Department in Washington. |
| 0:20.2 | Across from him, the notorious scandal-monger and political journalist James T. Callender. |
| 0:25.6 | Secretary Madison, I have lost labor, gained thousands of personal enemies, |
| 0:29.4 | got my name inserted in hundreds of libles, and I have nothing to show for it. |
| 0:34.0 | The president has pardoned you, Mr. Callender. |
| 0:36.2 | The pardon erased my conviction, but it is not makeup for the time I've already served. |
| 0:40.4 | Nor does it make up for the $200 fine I was forced to pay out of my own pocket. |
| 0:45.3 | Under the Adams administration, Callender had written scathing critiques of John Adams, |
| 0:49.9 | Alexander Hamilton, and the Federalist Party. |
| 0:52.7 | After being found guilty of violating the Sedition Act, he spent nine months in jail and paid a hefty fine. |
| 0:59.2 | But today he's a free man, and his axe to grind isn't with the former President John Adams. |
| 1:04.7 | It's with newly elected President Thomas Jefferson. |
| 1:07.9 | Mr. Callender, the fine will be repaid, the president will see to that. |
| 1:11.4 | It is not enough. |
| 1:13.0 | You are a free man, Mr. Callender. Let that be enough. I want a position. |
| 1:18.2 | Madison isn't surprised by this. |
| 1:20.3 | Callender had written him about the subject weeks ago. |
| 1:23.0 | Madison knows exactly what Callender wants, to be postmaster of Richmond. |
| 1:27.6 | Madison also knows President Jefferson has no intention of giving Callender a job. |
| 1:32.4 | The president is trying to build consensus, Mr. Callender, |
| 1:35.3 | appointing you postmaster will fan the flames with the Federalists. |
... |
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