What did Thomas Jefferson say about the freedom of the press?
Asked by: Jenifer Lemke | Last update: July 17, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (46 votes)
Thomas Jefferson viewed the freedom of the press as an absolute essential for a functioning democracy, famously stating in 1787 that if he had to choose between "a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government," he would prefer the latter.
What did Thomas Jefferson say about freedom of the press?
Thomas Jefferson was a staunch advocate for a free press, famously stating that he would prefer "newspapers without government" to "government without newspapers". He believed a free press was essential for keeping government in check and famously wrote, "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost".
How did Jefferson view the press?
Over time, Jefferson's letters reveal that, while he strongly supported freedom of the press, he was not immune to the partisan and personal attacks made upon him, and he supported some prosecutions for libel and sedition.
What is Thomas Jefferson's most famous quote?
Thomas Jefferson's most famous and iconic quote is: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". This phrase is from the Declaration of Independence.
What was Thomas Jefferson accused of in the press?
In “The President, Again,” published on September 1, 1802, in the Recorder; or, Lady's and Gentleman's Miscellany, a Federalist newspaper in Richmond, James Thomson Callender turns on his former patron, accusing U.S. president Thomas Jefferson of having fathered children with a slave named Sally (presumably Sally ...
FACT CHECK: Did Thomas Jefferson Say 'When the Speech Condemns a Free Press, You Are Hearing the ...
What did Thomas Jefferson say about freedom?
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) viewed freedom as a natural, God-given right, defining it as the foundation of a republic characterized by limited government, individual liberty, and popular sovereignty. He advocated for a "republicanism" that favored individual rights over centralized authority, famously prioritizing "dangerous freedom" over "peaceful slavery".
How old was Jefferson when he slept with Sally?
Thomas Jefferson was 44 years old when he is believed to have begun a sexual relationship with Sally Hemings in Paris in 1787, as she was a 14-year-old enslaved teenager. Hemings was 30 years his junior, and the relationship lasted nearly four decades, resulting in at least six children.
What did Abraham Lincoln say about Thomas Jefferson?
All honor to Jefferson - to the man who, in the concrete pressure of a struggle for national independence by a single people, had the coolness, forecast, and capacity to introduce into a merely revolutionary document, an abstract truth, applicable to all men and all times, and so embalm it there, that to-day, and in ...
What were Jefferson's last words?
Thomas Jefferson's widely reported last words were "Is it the Fourth?" or "This is the Fourth of July". He passed away on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—shortly after inquiring about the date.
What was Thomas Jefferson's motto?
Thomas Jefferson’s most prominent personal motto was "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God," which he adopted for his personal seal. Another core phrase reflecting his ideology, often inscribed at memorials, is "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man".
What did Thomas Jefferson say about Jews?
Thomas Jefferson strongly advocated for Jewish civil and religious liberty, viewing it as essential to a free republic, while often privately expressing disdain for the theology of the Hebrew Bible. He famously protected the rights of Jews to practice their faith freely and hoped to see them take their place in public and intellectual life.
How is Marilyn Monroe related to Thomas Jefferson?
According to genealogical research, Marilyn Monroe was a distant relative of Thomas Jefferson, specifically identified as his 14th cousin, seven times removed. This connection is traced through ancestral lines, connecting the actress to the 3rd U.S. President via shared ancestors from Virginia.
What is the most misspelled word in the US Constitution?
#DidYouKnow the most misspelled word in the U.S. Constitution is "Pennsylvania"? Explore our new infographic comparing the federal and state constitutions – an easy resource for classrooms and civic learning on #ConstitutionDay Download here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4gxePpI.
What is a famous quote about the free press?
Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe. No government ought to be without censors: and where the press is free, no one ever will.
What did Thomas Jefferson say about Jesus?
Thomas Jefferson highly revered Jesus as a moral teacher, describing his teachings as the "most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man". However, Jefferson was a Deist who rejected the divinity of Jesus, the Trinity, the resurrection, and biblical miracles, believing Jesus to be a human reformer whose true message was corrupted by his followers.
What did Mark Twain say about the news?
The most famous quote attributed to Mark Twain regarding the news is: "If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed". This quote highlights a cynical view of media bias and reliability, suggesting that news outlets often distort reality.
What is Jefferson's most famous quote?
Thomas Jefferson's most famous and consequential quote is: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" from the Declaration of Independence.
What were JFK's final words?
Kennedy's limousine entered Dealey Plaza at 12:30 pm. CST. Nellie Connally turned and commented to Kennedy, who was sitting behind her, "Mr. President, they can't make you believe now that there are not some in Dallas who love and appreciate you, can they?" Kennedy's reply – "No, they sure can't" – were his last words.
Did Jefferson try to end slavery?
Thomas Jefferson conceptually opposed slavery as a "moral depravity" and "hideous blot," advocating for its gradual abolition and the colonization of freed slaves outside the US. However, his actions were conflicted; he never freed most of his slaves, owning over 600 in his lifetime, due to debt and fears of societal instability.
What president was buried 17 times?
Abraham Lincoln is the president whose remains were moved and re-interred 17 times between 1865 and 1901. Due to construction on his tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery and fears of body-snatching, his coffin was frequently relocated and opened five times before being finally secured under 10 feet of concrete.
What are Jefferson's last words?
Thomas Jefferson’s final words are generally recorded as "Is it the Fourth?" or "No, doctor, nothing more." He spoke these phrases shortly before lapsing into a coma and passing away on July 4, 1826—coincidentally the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Is George Clooney a descendent of Abraham Lincoln?
Yes, George Clooney is distantly related to Abraham Lincoln. According to Ancestry.com genealogists, they are half-first cousins five times removed. This connection is rooted in Kentucky, linking Clooney through his maternal line to Lucy Hanks, who was Lincoln’s maternal grandmother.
What happened to Sally Hemings when Jefferson died?
After Thomas Jefferson died in 1826, Sally Hemings was not legally emancipated due to Virginia laws and estate debts. Instead, Jefferson’s daughter unofficially freed her, allowing her to leave Monticello. Hemings lived the last nine years of her life in nearby Charlottesville, Virginia, with her youngest sons, Madison and Eston, until her death in 1835.
How much older was George Washington than Thomas Jefferson?
Jefferson was 33, Patrick Henry 40, and George Washington 44 on July 4, 1776. Why, then, do we remember them as elder statesmen?
Did Jefferson love Sally Hemings?
Through the 20th century, some historians accepted the possibility of a Jefferson-Hemings connection and a few gave it credence, but most Jefferson scholars found the case for such a relationship unpersuasive.