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The Thomas Jefferson Discussion Group
of Orlando, Florida
Meeting No. 38 - June 22, 2004
Holiday House Restaurant, Orlando, Florida
THIS MONTH'S TOPIC:
THOMAS JEFFERSON AND RONALD WILSON REAGAN:
POLICY, PERSONALITY, AND PHILOSOPHY
THEIR SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
The hornets’ nest has been whacked, and whacked good! History will be the final arbiter in determining whether the current conflict in Iraq will go down as a masterful tactic in an overall war against terror, or whether the preemptive strike will be viewed as a colossal miscalculation.
The Reagan administration was faced with the daunting threat of Communism. This threat crumbled under its own inefficient, bureaucratic weight – it is a history-proven failed economic system (Cuba is another example). It seemed President Reagan was able to navigate through those dangerous waters without having to resort to a “shooting” war.
As president from 1801 to 1809, Thomas Jefferson was faced with threats from France, England and the Barbary pirates, and managed to avoid an all out war using embargos, diplomacy and a military build-up. Did Jefferson merely “kick the can down the road” into the Madison presidency? (The result was the War of 1812). Would it have been better for the country if Jefferson engaged the enemy militarily earlier on – he certainly was provoked?
Is appeasement ever the best policy - or, as Churchill said, merely a way to hope the crocodile eats you last.
Are there any common attributes that Reagan and Jefferson possessed? What about differences? We’ll discuss this and, I’m sure, lots of other things on Tuesday night at the Holiday House starting around 6:15.
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