Thomas Jefferson is one of the most revered Founding Fathers. The phrases that emanated from his pen embody the spirit of the American Revolution, defining not only for his generation but for all posterity the essence of liberty that has forever been encapsulated in the American psyche. … But this is only one side of a man who often failed to live up to his own highbrow rhetoric. In fact, at critical junctures throughout his life, Jefferson’s behavior ran directly counter to his stated ideals. … His personal hypocrisy in the face of real-world challenges must also be part of the understanding of the person, alongside the popular notions of the esteemed founder. Jefferson, through his writings, provided his nation with what has persevered through time as the essence of what America is all about (or, at least, what it’s supposed to be all about). At the same time, his personal failings to live up to many of those standards are equally part of the Jefferson story, one which clouds the glorious image with darkened hues.