Thomas Jefferson has always been one of my political heroes but as I read Ron Chenow’s book on Alexander Hamilton I may have to rewrite my heroes page or at least edit it. I would normally say a book about Alexander Hamilton might betray this leader in the bright lights but this book takes us to his dark side of Hamilton as well and therefore negative input on Thomas Jefferson must carefully considered as well. Thomas Jefferson is portrayed not just as an idealogue of small localized government but also a political vindictive individual who didn’t have the courage to take on his opponents directly but used surrogates to advance “his cause”. I’m only approximately 1/2 way through this book and therefore those opinions might be tempered but no matter what this reading has tampered the light I had on Thomas Jefferson. The truth is the more we read the whole truth about any of our heroes the more likely we will realize the fragility of their greatness and the weaknesses that could have destroyed their brilliant light.