Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Campaign story from 1800

In Thomas Jefferson : A Life, the following story is retold of the presidential election from 1800:

"A Federalist lady in a small Connecticut town was so terrified of what would happen to the family Bible if Jefferson became president that she took it to the only Jeffersonian she knew and asked him to hide it for her. The Jeffersonian tried to allay her fears about Jefferson, but she remained unconvinced.

'My good woman,' he finally said, 'if all the Bibles are to be destroyed, what is the use of bringing yours to me? That will not save it when it is found.'

'I'm sure it will,' she insisted. 'It will be perfectly safe with you. They'll never think of looking in the house of a Democrat for a Bible.'"

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