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 Dave Ross
thomas jefferson
Dave Ross takes a lesson from the words of Thomas Jefferson. (AP Photo/file)

And now a word from Thomas Jefferson

BY Dave Ross  on February 14, 2013 @ 11:05 am (Updated: 9:51 am - 2/15/13 )

I've been reading Jon Meacham's book "Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power."

It's the portrait of a man who declared all men are created equal, but kept slaves, and was in part urged to revolution because the British threatened to free those slaves. He comes across as more inconsistent and conflicted than the image we get in school.

But one thing everyone seemed to agree on was that he understood politics, and how to get things done. And in 1797, when he was Vice President, and the new nation was facing crisis after crisis - he wrote a letter to his grandson, laying out what he'd learned about political debate.

The language is a little stilted, 215 years later, but here's what he says. His most important rule for social interaction was "never entering into dispute or argument with another. I never yet saw an instance of one of two disputants convincing the other by argument."

He goes on. "I have seen many, on their getting warm, becoming rude, and shooting one another. " And then he says this - and when he uses the word conviction, he means it in the sense of convincing someone - he says, "Conviction is the effect of our own dispassionate reasoning, either in solitude, or weighing within ourselves dispassionately what we hear from others, standing uncommitted in argument ourselves."

In other words, you can never change anyone's mind by arguing with them in front of others. People only change their minds upon quiet reflection, weighing what they've heard, and then coming to their own conclusions. And then he ends by quoting Benjamin Franklin who used to tell him, "Never contradict anybody."

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (25)


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  • Cameron wrote...
    Well then, I guess we can discount every Dave Ross broadcast.
    February 17, 2013 5:37 am
    In his own words from the story "In other words, you can never change anyone's mind by arguing with them in front of others. People only change their minds upon quiet reflection, weighing what they've heard, and then coming to their own conclusions." Dave spends all morning flogging his politics under the cover of pretending to be a "journalist" delivering the "news". Dave is one of those people who is so disconnected from own bias, he probably doesn't even see it as bias anymore.
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  • heyjim55 wrote...
    History from a Lib
    February 17, 2013 8:28 am
    When someone writes a book about American history or a particular figure in History I always get suspicious. Whats's their motive? what can possibly be written about this subject that hasn't been done before. For The Art Of Power and for Dave it's about discrediting our four fathers., and why not if you are a Lib? We are now living in a time when the Left is in the process of destroying this country and if anyone knows anything about what the Communists have done around the world you would know that destroying history and discrediting it's past is well on the menu. Don't be shocked at some point if you start hearing that the statue of liberty has to go or celebrating the 4th of July must be stopped. No I prefer to accept our four fathers flawed souls and I applaud their great deeds I will not accept anything from a Lib.
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  • Pair o'dimes wrote...
    The real problem revealed..
    February 17, 2013 9:51 am
    Now we finally know why our country is in turmoil. It is well documented that a stable home life is key to a well adjusted adulthood. With four fathers in our country's infancy, it was bound to lead to identity problems in later life. ;-)
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  • sohojo wrote...
    Slavery
    February 17, 2013 9:08 am
    Was the norm in those days, so trying to discredit Jefferson on this point is nothing but liberal spin. Dave, I'm almost positive your distant relatives probably were involved in slavery to some degree. Also, what school did you go to? It was taught to me that Jefferson was a slave owner.
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  • Stanwooddave wrote...
    Benjamin Franklin contradicting & entering into [A] dispute and argument(s) with other's
    February 17, 2013 10:19 am
    The United States Supreme Court 1892 Church of The Holy Trinity Vs. United States 143 U.S. 465 The Court cited: The congregational record, and the records of James Madison ( Who kept meticulous records) @ the constitutional convention on; Thursday, June 28, 1787 when Franklin (81 years old, and in poor health.. so bad they had to carry him on and off the floor) Seeing the convention crumbling because of all the disagreement that brought fought this speech by Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) “Do you remember what we used to do here, 13 year’s ago? In this very room where the 1st sessions of congress meet ( The records show that they prayed every morning & sometimes multi hour pray sessions) “In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had prayer in this room for divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. I’ve lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: That GOD governs in the affairs of man. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We’ve been assured in sacred writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without HIS concurring aid, we shall succeed in this POLITICAL BUILDING No better than the builders of babel.” He then made a motion: “I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberations be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business.” ( This is the speech that lead to the establishment of chaplain’s in both the House & Senate.) Well Dave so much for shoveling the Kamp Kumbaya Graduates Motto "Can't, Can't, Can't" we all get along [Rodney King circa 1992],See Rodney King Stuttering @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sONfxPCTU0, Click-&-Paste Media, while working in Utopia, riding unicorns & sniffing pixy dust.
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  • 2112 wrote...
    compromise
    February 17, 2013 10:53 am
    In order to save this country, we are all going to have to pay much more tax (preferably in a flat rate system) and accept less in government largess. ALL OF US. Both parties are equally to blame in this mess.
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  • rational wrote...
    2112
    February 17, 2013 6:40 pm
    I agree with you...but it'll never happen. There are fearful few politicians willing to fight against the rush to always spend more...and they are demonized by the rest of the politicians of both parties.
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  • dori monson fan wrote...
    and now a word from george washington
    February 17, 2013 5:31 pm
    "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." -George Washington
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