The Constitution was two years old and the United States was in serious danger. Bitter political rivalry between former allies and two surging issues that inflamed the nation led to grim talk of breaking up the union. Then a single great evening achieved compromises that led to America's great expansion. This book celebrates Thomas Jefferson and his two guests, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, and the meal that saved the republic. In Dinner at Mr. Jefferson's, you'll discover the little-known story behind this pivotal evening in American history, complete with wine lists, recipes, and more.

Customer Review: Disappointing

After reading Joseph Ellis' devotion to the subject in "Founding Brother's" I was looking forward to reading Cerami's book devoted to the subject of the famous dinner of Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton. However after reading this book I was extremely disappointed. The book is a rehash of events with little space actually devoted to the dinner. Cerami has not broken new ground here (maybe with his in depth and drawn out discussion of Jefferson's dinner habits and menu), devotes little to the actually dinner, and spends the rest of the book rehashing the old story of the Hamilton/Jefferson/Madison fued.

On top of that the scholarship is terrible. Readers would be best served going to Cerami's bibliography and reading the materials, especially since Cerami seems to believe that footnoting is a waste of time (none at all in the book). Furthermore the book is filled with assumptions that Cerami doesn't back up with evidence. On top of all this, he constently repaeats himself over and over again as if doing so makes his points better. By doing all of this Cerami seems to be attempting to capture a broader audience, but instead he has turned his book into questionable scholarship at best.

There are other issues with this book. His constant references to Jefferson's last letter to Washington being "friendly." Yet where Cerami fails here is any discussion of the fact that Washington had learned Jefferon had stabbed him in the back with his "Sampson" Letter," and Jefferson's final letter was more of an attempt to make a mends than a friend writing to another friend (especially when more evidence shows that Washinton no longer considered Jefferson a friend...a fact that Cerami leaves out of his book). Cerami devotes 4-5 pages to Hamilton's affair with a married woman, yet off handedly mentions Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemings. Cerami paints a picture of President Jefferson holding on to Federalist in his admistration as if it were some move out of the kindness of his heart, failing to even address (and more and more facts have surfaced) the deal Jefferson made with Federalists to get break the dead-lock between him and Burr.

Do yourselves a favor, buy Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation read Ellis' chapter devoted to the subject and avoid this book.

Customer Review: Did you ever wonder..........

....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.

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