1804, Jefferson vs. Pinckney: The People’s President

American Elections: Wicked Game

Airship

History

4.8 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 29 October 2019

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

To maintain his grip on power and win the election of 1804, Thomas Jefferson, the so called “Man of the People”, will have to survive brutal attacks in the press, ideological pushback from his own party and a violent scandal that plagues his administration.

Created, hosted and executive produced by Lindsay Graham for Airship. Sound design by Derek Behrens. Co-Executive produced by Steven Walters in association with Ritual Productions. Written and researched by Steven Walters. Fact checking by Gregory Jackson and Cielle Salazar from the podcast History That Doesn’t Suck. Music by Lindsay Graham.

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Transcript

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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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