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Once he took office, Jefferson's views on limited government didn't inhibit his muscular use of power. A born defender of the citizenry's right to dissent from and even actively oppose its leaders' decisions, he strongly aligned himself against the Alien and Sedition Acts, which had been signed by his predecessor Adams. (To the extent that certain elements of the current Patriot Act smack of oppression, Jefferson might find it alarming too.) And following the Louisiana Purchase--whose constitutionality he questioned but whose practical benefits he found irresistible--he boldly claimed the nation's far-reaching wilderness by sending Lewis and Clark on their unprecedented expedition, the purpose of which was not only to seek knowledge but also to assert political dominion. To Jefferson, the advance of freedom wasn't something that happened on its own. It had to be pushed, and push it he did.
Today we don't live in Jefferson's America--not, at least, in any practical sense--and yet his ideals, if not always his actions, serve as a perpetual reminder of the country's potential to operate more freely, openly, rationally and fairly. Though not in a conventional religious sense, Jefferson was a man of faith. He expected that certain abiding truths, more durable than any physical monuments, would continue to guide the conscience of the nation long after he was gone. "The good sense of our people will direct the boat ultimately to its proper point," he wrote. Through his thoughts, words and deeds, he tried to steer this vessel, but he knew in the end that its course was up to us, despite our confusion, despite our imperfection. He was far from perfect too. Institutions evolve and circumstances change, but finally Jefferson trusted in the people. It's easy to forget but crucial to remember that he was one of them. One of us. --With reporting by Andrea Dorfman/New York