Continental Army officer, Delegate to the Federal Convention of 1787, Treasury Secretary, U.S. Senator from NY, 1805-1809, 4th President of the USA, 1809-1813
Lurking in the hereafter
Joined January 2024
- Tweets1.5K
- Following284
- Followers335
- Likes2.3K
Every October I remember those glorious days at Yorktown - watching as death and destruction rained down on our tormentors, and Cornwallis' paths to retreat were cut away from him, one by one, till he had no choice but to surrender!
These were the best of times. . .
After serving on Gen. Washington's staff for five difficult years, my nerves were frayed. A momentary clash led me to resign and return home to Eliza.
But when His Excellency moved south to trap Gen. Cornwallis at Yorktown, he sent for me.
A field command was mine at last!
You know, this fellow looks nothing like me . . . but, as you folks would say in this marvelous and bizarre century, he GETS me!
I never met this Winston Churchill fellow - I was dead during his entire lifespan - but I will say his quote "A fanatic is one who cannot change his mind and will not change the subject!" - is certainly very apt.
A brilliant man whose books are the finest work I have read since my return to mortal life.
On this day in 1973 the legendary J. R. R. Tolkien passed away aged 81.
From the horrors of the Somme, to the simple beauty of the Shire, Tolkien has left his mark.
"I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size). I like gardens, trees and unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain food (unrefrigerated), but detest French cooking; I like, and even dare to wear in these dull days, ornamental waistcoats."
Thank You and Rest in Peace Professor
I'm thinking of summoning some of my contemporaries from the afterlife - Washington, Dr. Franklin, Madison, maybe even Jefferson - to what I believe is called an "intervention" for our poor country.
A happy Saturday to all who believe in fiscal responsibility, wise and honest leadership, and strong, capable government!
A properly run Republic is the finest form of government there is. An elected legislature to write the laws. A powerful, independent executive to enforce them. And a neutral Supreme Court of learned jurists to interpret them.
WHAT HAVE YOU PEOPLE DONE WITH IT???
I wonder how differently things might have turned out if the Federalists followed my advice and nominated General Pinckney in 1800 instead of John Adams?
I had my share of grievances with the likes of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, and James Monroe.
But at the end of the day, they were all patriots who loved their country and wished to see our Republic succeed.
I wish there was more unselfish love of country today.
Has it really been 224 years already?
July 11 - the day I faced off with the Vice President in a duel that he demanded.
In your timeline, I died. In mine . . . well, the title says it all:
Well, good afternoon, Twitterverse. I apologize for my recent absence; I accompanied my biographer on a trip to my old haunts in Philadelphia and Washington City.
We did not win our Independence on the Fourth.
In fact, we came closer to losing it in 1776 than in any year thereafter.
But what we declared that day were the principles our nation would be built upon if we lived to build it.
Jefferson's words were a goal, not a destination.
In June of 1776, we had just marched southward to engage the enemy. The British had evacuated Boston, and we knew the next blow would fall on New York. The city was almost indefensible, but Washington was determined to hold it - and I was a young volunteer artillery captain.
The thing that irritated me most about Thomas Jefferson is that he was the epitome of graciousness and civility in person - all the while employing the most vile slanderers in the country to attack his political rivals.
At least I wrote my own attack essays!
A carefully managed, regularly paid national debt is a national blessing. The more people you owe, the more people have a vested interest in your financial success. But the situation I see in America today has gone beyond anything we Founders ever intended.
It has to be fixed.
Well, I see this platform remained standing while I was absent for a few days.
So did our Republic . . . for now.