Jefferson the President, First Term, by Dumas Malone

Just finished Volume IV of the series Jefferson and His Time, which centers on Jefferson's first presidential term from 1801 to 1805.  Following the turbulence of the first three terms served by Washington and Adams, plus the vitriol of the 1800 campaign, Jefferson's first time was smooth sailing, without great crises or cause for alarm.

The demise of the Federalist cause and the death of its bold leader in Alexander Hamilton, coupled with a pause in the European theater of war between Great Britain and France, led to prolonged peace and prosperity in young America.

It's debatable how much Jefferson was responsible for this time of calm, although everything he had done in his earlier career was for the lasting peace of his country.  The great American philosopher and idealist envisioned exactly this type of existence.  More realistically, however, the lasting peace had to do with events in Europe, where Napoleon took a breather to consolidate his forces and power.  Without the risk of embroilment in European affairs, American could focus inward.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to America was Napoleon's decision to divest France of its American empire-to-be.  Part of his consolidation resulted in the sale of Louisiana to the U.S., doubling it's geographic territory, but more importantly for the short-term, ensuring its free navigation of the Mississippi.

It's easy to say that Jefferson lucked into this deal; but this book details much behind-the-scenes that Jefferson, James Madison (secretary of state), Albert Gallatin (secretary of the treasury) and others did to make it happen.  Although not discussed in the book, I found myself thinking that Jefferson's work to cut federal spending must have helped enable the young country to afford the $15 million cost to acquire Louisiana.

Beyond the Louisiana Purchase, most of Jefferson's notable achievements came much earlier in his career (author of the Declaration of Independence, advocate for religious freedom and states' rights).  It's as if his presidency - the first term at least - was the payoff for his embattled career as American diplomat, governor, secretary of state and vice president.  Each of those earlier roles came at great personal expense.  Jefferson as president was at the top of his game, his power and his happiness in office.  Even better, he rarely lived so close to Monticello while in office, except during his revolutionary term as Governor of Virginia.

Contrast this with Washington and Adams, who worked equally as hard, in equally turbulent conditions in their earlier lives, only to cap it off with embittered times in the presidential chair.  This new stability in the country that benefited Jefferson was a sign that the country - the grand American Experiment - was in fact stabilizing, growing and finding its way.