Dinner at Mr. Jefferson's: Three Men, Five Great Wines, and the Evening That Changed America

This is quite an interesting book. It talks about the underlying tensions that were going on with our leaders at the birth of our country. Intriguing.

....how our Nation's Capital ended up in a malarial swamp? It's a heck of a story, and, as with much else, Thomas Jefferson is central to it.... Several serious problems faced our nation in its early days, one of which was a massive debt burden, and declining confidence in our credit on the part of European bankers. What to do? Alexander Hamilton, a thoroughly brilliant but unpleasant little man had a plan, and he had the ear, and full confidence, of George Washington. As Secretary of the Treasury, he pretty much could do as he liked. His personality made enemies, even among his own faction, like John Adams. [Parties weren't fully developed]. But, his main opposition came from Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Congressman James Madison. Hamilton wanted the new federal government to assume state debts from the Revolution; Madison and Jefferson feared centralization of federal power [and Virginia had paid its debts, anyway]. Alongside this, there was the problem of where to put the new Capital city, and whether to build one from scratch, or use an existing city. New York, and Philadelphia, each had partisans, and various sites were under consideration. A site on the Potomac [which eventually won] had many friends, but there were those who said that George Washington would personally profit [he did]. Jefferson became worried about our credit problem, and decided to give Hamilton what he wanted. He had to make Hamilton think he was "putting one over", and thus had to make him give up something. On June 19, 1790, Jefferson invited Hamilton and Madison to dine with him the next day. Jefferson always spent too much; he had spent way too much remodling a temporary rental in New York, and lavished on food. But, he gave a fine dinner, at which Hamilton pledged to get his New York friends to support the Potomac site, and Madison agreed to quit fighting assumption. The rest is history...... Hamilton was eventually to ruin himself in an illicit affair [with Maria Reynolds], and Jefferson went from glory to glory [broke, however]. Madison, for all his greatness, remains a shadow to us. This fine book will give you a good glimpse of the time they all worked together. The parts about Senator William Maclay are enlightening; we owe this largely forgotten man much. The recipes from Jefferson's kitchen are a nice touch; my chef son says they're all doable with a minimum of effort, and cost. Despite an astounding ability to tolerate contradictions, Thomas Jefferson regretted his part in this whole matter for the rest of his life; still, this volume tells a fascinating story, and tells it well.

Many of us remember John F. Kennedy's now famous comment to a gathering , "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone. " History corroborates Mr. Kennedy's estimation of Jefferson's mental acuity but it does not recount how often Jefferson dined alone. Fortunately, what it does relate is the story of an evening when Jefferson hosted two guests for dinner - Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. This was a momentous time in our nation's history, and that evening is faithfully recalled by author/historian Charles A. Cerami in Dinner At Mr. Jefferson's. In 1790 Jefferson evidently decided to resolve differences and perhaps the best way to do it was over excellent food and fine wines. To that end he invited Hamilton and Madison to dinner. The host was correct - during that meal bargains were struck: the Federal government would be responsible for Revolutionary War debts, which pleased Hamilton, and the capital would be moved, which pleased Jefferson and Madison. While the crux of the evening is well known what delights is Cerami's description of those hours as he not only imagines the conversation but includes recipes for dishes served and notes wines enjoyed. A remarkable reading by voice performer William Dufris literally transports the listener to that eventful dinner. The winner of thirteen Earphones Awards and voted a "Best Voice at the End of the Century" by AudioFile magazine, he delivers an estimable narration. - Gail Cooke