Thomas Jefferson was just a different kind of cat. According to contemporary sources, his voice was high-pitched which made him very self-conscious. In fact, he would write out his State of the Union Addresses and have them read aloud to Congress rather than read them himself! He also would answer the door to the White House in his slippers. Could you imagine ringing the doorbell to the White House today and President Obama answering the door in his jammies?
Read this account of Jefferson in the White House. In the comments section, answer the following two questions:
1) What does Mrs. Smith's account of Jefferson in the White House teach you about the man?
2) Do you think the job of President is different today than it was when Jefferson was President?
1. Thomas Jefferson was a very quite, self-conscious man. HE never gave his speeches aloud, he would always write them and let congress read the letters to themselves. He always thought other were talking about him.
ReplyDelete2. I think that being president back in Jefferson,s time and being president now are two completely different things. Back the you really didn't run for president you kinda were just told and you accepted. now you have to go through and election process and its not just right away you wait at least a whole year before you even have an election and you have to run for Vice President also. so there is a major difference between now and then.
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1) Her account teaches you a lot of stuff. The things that it teaches you are stuff that most people did not know ,or you would not think they would. Let's just say that the things this teaches were a lot more personal, like how much Jefferson liked his bird.
ReplyDelete2) I think that the job is different , but in some ways still the same. It is different because it is a new generation , and it is not like it was back then, and because there is new people and a new society things have to be governed differently. Like with gay marriage. Back then no one even thought about being gay.
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ReplyDelete1) first I want to say wow that was an intresting page I learned a lot of stuff about him and just the culture back then. I think it is amazing how he could juggle all those things at once. Normally the women are the ones juggling a lot of tasks not men, personally I'm very impressed.
ReplyDelete2) I think looking at the presidency back then and know yes it is very diffrent but along with the presincy our world s very diffrent, very diverse. So I think not that the presidents job was not easier it just was looked at as a job not a privlage or a popularity thing. So yes I think that it is diffrent but not in the ways evryone think. (127)
1) first I want to say wow that was an intresting page I learned a lot of stuff about him and just the culture back then. I think it is amazing how he could juggle all those things at once. Normally the women are the ones juggling a lot of tasks not men, personally I'm very impressed.
ReplyDelete2) I think looking at the presidency back then and know yes it is very diffrent but along with the presincy our world s very diffrent, very diverse. So I think not that the presidents job was not easier it just was looked at as a job not a privlage or a popularity thing. So yes I think that it is diffrent but not in the ways evryone think. (127)
1. It teaches us a lot of things about Thomas Jefferson's personality. Thomas Jefferson was very self conscious about his voice, but he did not let that stop him. He also enjoyed being with his grandchildren, and tried to make everyone feel comfortable at dinner parties. We also learn that he had a pet bird that he loved.
ReplyDelete2. I believe that the job is still the same. However, our country is a lot different than it was back then. Back then, our country was new. Also, we don't have the same issues that they did back then.
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From this account, you can gather that Jefferson was a respectful man who had a chill side to him. He kept everything Washington had that was in the White House, remembering Washington. Also, when Jefferson was alone he would just sit in his office and let his bird out of its cage so it could fly around and sing. This shows that while Jefferson was serious about his job, he knew how to let loose at times.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the job of the president has changed throughout our country's history. Back when our country started, the presidents had to work a lot more because we were so new. We didn't have as well of a structured government back then as we do today, so the president really had to help keep our country afloat. In the present time, we have been a country for over two centuries and we have a pretty strong government, even though it may be on the decline. The president has many more people to help make decisions, so he doesn't have to keep our country afloat as much as the first few presidents did
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1. From this account about Jefferson, it taught me that he was a very nice man. When we was elected, he invited the Smith family over to the White House or even their home in Capitol Hill.
ReplyDeleteHe also worried a lot. He worried about the grounds around the President's house. Also it taught me how much he liked his bird and how much he took care of the bird
2. Yes, I do think the job is the same but also in some ways it was different. Back then you were just assigned the job and it was easy getting the job, now you have to go through everything to be president
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This weeks blog is about Thomas Jefferson's stay in the White House.
ReplyDelete1. From Mrs. Smith's account, I can say that Thomas Jefferson was a very "different" kind of person. To say the least, he was a very interesting character. He was known for being very insecure of his high-pitched voice, and he had a very strange personality. You could say that he was history's most intelligent nut job.
2. I think that Thomas Jefferson's job in the White House was definitely different from the president's job today. I think that presidency is more formal and important now then it used to be. Knowing that Jefferson answered the door in his slippers, I think he took it a little less serious. Today the president would answer the door in a very fancy suit and tie. Word Count: 139
Jefferson was certainly a unique man. According to Mrs. Smith, he didn't really furnish much of the White House. He left much of the White House unfurnished, including the east wing which was unfinished. He also would only have dinner with a maximum of 14 people, which was a seemingly odd thing he did.
ReplyDeleteThe job of the president has certainly evolved over time. Obama certainly does not have a bird flying around him when he works alone. They also deal with completely different issues. Jefferson probably had different foreign relations. For example, today, one of the United States' biggest problem is terrorism.
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It tells us that Jefferson was a loving man who had a great way of looking at things. It also tells us that Jefferson was an easy person to please. It tells us that he was always happy to learn and do work. It also tells us what a hard worker he is and how he deals with problems in America.
ReplyDeleteI do think the job of President is different today than it was when Thomas Jefferson was president because today the president has to decide what to do with other countries and what we can do to stop other countries from hurting us. 104 words
I think Jefferson was a bit more laid back than others. He wasn't very out going. He always thought people were talking about him. He would never give his speech's in public. Instead he would write them out, and have the congress read it for him. His dinner parties would only go up to 14 people, and you were lucky if you got picked. He would only pick people to come to dinner parties, based on their interest, and taste. I think Jefferson was a very different kind of president. He was a lot more sudden than other presidents. Which can be good, and can be bad.
ReplyDelete2. I think being a president now, verses back then, is very different, but the same in some ways. Back then, you dint have to go through years of waiting to be elected, for instance, George Washington didn't even run, he was just chosen. Now their are many process to go through to be elected. I think in some ways, it is the same. like, the responsibilities are still somewhat the same. They still have to be a leader. and I think that's the main thing. to be a pre isn't you have to be a leader. know what your doing, and protect your country. for instance I don't think Obama, is the best option.thats just me. I don't think he knows how to be a leader, and stand up for the country. and I think those are the qualities for a president. George Washington will always be the best president we ever had.
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He was definitely a different type did guy. From reading that I can easily tell he cared ,ore about helping a,Erica than he did finishing his own "home" (The White House) during his presidency. Also so far every president is having self comcious issues. So Jefferson is very similar to the others in that way. He may not have like his vice but he really helped America.
ReplyDeleteI mean facing bigger issues now can definitely make the job a bit different. Of course they had issues as does everyone but because of the really advanced technology of today I would definitely say the responsibilities and stress amount has changed. (110)
The account shows us that Thomas Jefferson was a very shy but nice man. He did not like to give speeches so he wrote them down and gave them to someone else to say. The account also shows us that he was a nice guy that cared for people that weren't just white or wealthy.
ReplyDeleteThe presidency today is ver different today then they were when Jefferson was president. For example, we now have iPads for emails and other things the president does with technology. Jefferson had to write down his message and send it with some one in horse back just for some one else to get it.
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1. He really didn't know how to decorate because he left things as they were when they were brought in from Virginia. The furniture was worn and faded, but he had a drawing room that was furnished just like it was set up in Philadelphia. The rest of the furniture was provided by the government and it was pain and simple. So basically Jefferson was shy and didn't have a since of style. He took most interest in his cabinet which he arranged with his own taste and convenience. He was interested in a lot of things like books, maps, globes, gardening, and carpeting.
ReplyDelete2. Do I think that the job of president is different yes I do. In fact it's more than different because now a days the president is agreeing on Gay marriage and to scared to say something. Back when Jefferson was president being gay wasn't even thought of, and scared to say something wasn't the case they were never scared to say something if they were they would have someone else say it. Nowadays you have to run for President and Vice President and then it's a long process. Back in the day the Democratic-Republican and Federalist chose who they wanted to run against each other and who ever won became President and the loser became Vice President. Today they have 4 candidates from both parties that run for president. Back then they just went with the best thing they thought was right.
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What I learned about Jefferson in the White House was several things. I learned that he made a lot of improvements to the White House. He added several luxuries for himself and future presidents. He was a very luxurious man after all... (Jk)
ReplyDeleteThere are several differences between our presidents right now and the first ones. I believe we have so many changes because of things that have happened in our country, not to mention the world. Some of these things and laws some people think should be changed or improved. I sure do know I have my own opinions and or takes on certain things these days. But yes, we do have several differences for several different reasons.
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From what I learned, I could see that Thomas Jefferson was more focused on his Politics and job of being a President than decorating the White House, yet he did want to get the house done. I also learned that he was a nice formal man. He liked to have dinners with colleges.
ReplyDeleteI think the job of a president is different today, from what it was years ago. President Jefferson doesn't have to worry about ISIS, yet he did have to deal with war amoung countries, it's not like it is today. We also have a bigger debt than what we had to start with. 106
Thomas Jefferson was a very self-conscious man. It seemed like loved nature and his bird. But he didn't really know how to decorate. He liked gardening and flowers. He also enjoyed spending time with all of his grandchildren. He made sure he and his guest would stay entertained when he had dinners. He loved to have engaged conversations. He tried to improve the grounds.
ReplyDeleteThe job of president back then was probably a little bit easier. He didn't have to deal with Isis and there weren't as many threats to the United States then. The national debt was less.
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The man was very different from what he seems. In my opinion, he's in love with birds, decorating isn't his best skill, into politics which already know, good at gardening and raising flowers, very specific when dining, loved his grandchildren, didn't mind having a dinner or two with coworkers, extremely self conscious about his voice, and he knew what he wanted.
ReplyDeleteBetween Jefferson and Obama, I think Jefferson had it a little easier. For one, they weren't facing Isis, and two not many people knew what to do, or how to do it. And the debt problem still hasn't gone away it got bigger.
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1. Thomas Jefferson was a man who had a pet bird that accompanied him during his first and also his second term. He did not changed the furniture that Geroge Washington put into the White House so he respected Washington. Finally he added a lot of storage for different things and that seemed not very useful.
ReplyDelete2. During Thomas Jefferson's time the presidency was still quite new and they would make improvements to the White House and now they don't really have to as much as back then. Also if you where slandered then it would have been easier kind of to defend you self esteem as president verses know. (Word count 110)
It taught quite a few things about Thomas Jefferson. He wasn't a very outgoing person very shy and didn't like saying speeches so loud. But yet he still tried his best! He wasn't the type of person to make people feel left out or any type like that.
ReplyDeleteI mean yes we're kinda the same but really no I mean our century now is way different then before. There has been so many changes since then. We have a little bit of the same but not a whole lot. So I'm gonna say yes but in different ways cause of so much change.
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1) People in the White House were treated with a lot of respect. Thomas Jefferson was not a very outspoken or outgoing man. He had insecuritys. Jefferson had a pet bird. It was a mocking bird which he cheerished dearly. The White House was really nice and glamorous.
ReplyDelete2) Things are differnt from when you were president then to now. Back then when you were elected for president you were mainly going to get in the White House any ways because if you lost you became the VP. Now in today's time there are so many people wanted to run for president that they usually have to have a whole other election for Vice President and President. The world has changed a lot from in 1800s, because now most people want to know where they can get married to their same-sex partner and where they can legal smoke marijuana and stuff like then. But back then I highly doubt they really knew what either of those things were. The most risky things they had back then were whisky, tobacco, and beer. But if you had feeling for someone of the same-sex you were, you were probably hung or be headed. But the world has changed a lot in many ways.
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1. mrs smith showed us a lot about thomas jefferson and his personality. one of the thoughts that mrs smith had about thomas jefferson was that he seemed like a good and honest man. he was very quiet and respectful. he was also very self-conscious about himself. mrs smith showed me personally that he was a very organized man.
ReplyDelete2. i think that presidents are very different now then how the presidents were back then. the presidents had different fights that they fought and different things they had to say to impress the people. i feel like we have bigger problems now then what we had back when jefferson was a president. (word count- 113)
After reading these journal entries about Jefferson, I discovered a lot of interesting things about Jefferson. He is a general nice guy who cares for everyone. Also, he is very found of his pet bird. From reading what he did with it it seems that that bird was like a dog to him. A close companion or a “man’s best friend.” Also, I feel like if he lived now he would be on HGTV because of what he liked to do to gardens and the White House’s backyard. He however would not help with the decorating inside because he has no taste when it comes to styling a house.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think they are different yet similar. They still have to deal with wars only in different ways. While Obama has to deal with the war of who can build the deadliest bomb, Jefferson had to deal with Native American attacks and of corse their ships being bombarded by the English, France, Pirates, etc. The one way they are different is that, like the “so calm” president originating from Tennessee, you cannot make laws and force people like the Natives off their land. Now it's very hard for a president to do that because of all the people who have to agree to it and the checks and balancing thing is working better now then it probably did back then since the country was so young. Well we still are. So my opinion is that while there are many similarities there are even more differences.
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It seemed to me that people thought Jefferson to be a very good and honest man. My general impression of him through Mrs. Smith is good. He loved decoration, despite his lack of ability in the area, and he loved his mockingbird, which accompanied him throughout his two presidential terms.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the presidency is pretty different than what it used to be. For one, people weren't so politically correct, easily offended, or in so many different religions and such. This, it was probably easier to get a higher approval rating. Also, the most pressing problems Jefferson would have faced would have been on American soil, as opposed to being on a global scale.
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Jefferson collected items like maps, charts, and books. He held a great respect for the first president of the United States. He was very self conscious because of his high voice and wrote out speeches for others to read for him. Jefferson loved his grandchildren and played with them without shame or embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteThe job of being the president is different from the way it used to be and the way it is now. For example, back then, the people only ran for president and the runner up became Vice President. Now you have to run for president or Vice President.
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1.It made me think that even as the president Jefferson still wanted to be treated like a civilian or have a civilian life just as the president. It made me think about the fact that the president is still a person like everyone else in America. He/she just has a little more power to "change the world". It also showed me that Jefferson didn't think much of himself. He had his insecurities just like the rest of us so he's a person like us.
ReplyDelete2.I totally think that president now is different then president then. I think this because they're are different times with different problems. And also back then there probably never would have been a black president. Mostly because blacks were enslaved at this time. But the times are completely different. (134 Words)