“working like bees to distill their poison”

That’s how President George Washington described Thomas Jefferson’s allies when they pushed him to declare War on England. I found the quote in Chapter two of Michael Beschloss’s recent book Presidential Courage. Here’s a middling review.

I knew the general outlines of this piece of Washington history but it was good to read again. It helps explain why Abe Lincoln thought so highly of the founding fathers that he wished he could become one of them. Abe succeeded beyond his wildest dreams and joined their august circle. I just finished Team of Rivals by Goodwin. Great Book.

Like Lincoln Washington was besieged by detractors in the press. (The Aurora was Jefferson’s own personal Fox News.

I liked Washington’s comment to a friend that his critics were fighting for “victory more than truth.” Sounds like the Koch Brothers.

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