A newly surfaced 1787 letter from Thomas Jefferson offers sharp, forward-looking advice on governance, emphasizing the need for national unity, fiscal responsibility, and agricultural strength as keys to a prosperous young nation. Drafted while Jefferson served as the U.S. minister to France, the handwritten note to a fellow statesman reflects his vision for leadership and warns against policies that could undermine stability. The document’s observations—particularly on debt management and avoiding divisive actions—have drawn attention for their striking parallels to modern political challenges. Now in private hands, the rare manuscript is set to be auctioned, offering historians and collectors a glimpse into the Founding Father’s enduring concerns.
Third US president wrote in 1787 about importance of peace, paying off debt and supporting agricultureA remarkably prescient letter written by Thomas Jefferson, the third US president, advising how the newly created country could prosper, has been put up for sale by a private collector. The handwritten document from 1787 warns specifically against many of the missteps Donald Trump has taken to drag down his own second term of office.Written in Paris, where Jefferson was the fledgling government’s minister to France, the note to David Rittenhouse, a friend and fellow member of the American Philosophical Society, muses on the priorities and principles he believed future presidents should follow. Continue reading...
