00:00David Rubenstein, host of The David Rubenstein Show on Bloomberg Television, recently sat down with Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by
00:06Bill Barker, and David started his conversation by asking the Founding Father about his legacy.
00:12On your epitaph that you prepared, it's on your tombstone, it didn't even say you were President of the United
00:18States.
00:19The first thing it says is, author of the Declaration of Independence.
00:22You're more proud of being the author of the Declaration of Independence than having served as President. Is that right?
00:26Well, thank you. Yes, I hope so. Any public office is received with the honorarium, the public trust of our
00:36people, their constituency, to serve as a public servant, even in the highest office.
00:44It's no different than a justice of the peace in that regard.
00:48And so, no, I do not want to be known for any public office. I served for 40 years in
00:53various capacities.
00:54Rather, I would like to be known for gifts that I have provided mankind.
00:59I see. On July the 4th, 1826, you're 83 years old, and you're not in good health, and you died
01:08a few hours before John Adams died.
01:12I think around 10.30 in the morning, something like that.
01:17Are you seeing that as a sign from God that both of you died on July the 4th, 1826, 50
01:22years to the day after the Declaration was agreed to?
01:27And did you take that as a sign from God that maybe the Declaration was a good thing to do?
01:32And he was warding you by letting you both die on the same day 50 years later?
01:36I don't know whether I would go so far to make a comment with respect to ecclesiastical laws and the
01:42supreme being, the architect of the universe,
01:45except to say 50 years to the vote on our Declaration of American Independence.
01:51Perhaps the last line offers some fulfillment.
01:56And in support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence,
02:01we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
02:06People have really respected you.
02:09Mount Rushmore, the coin, the $2 bill, the Jefferson Memorial, and Monticello.
02:14Are you surprised that you're being treated with such reverence,
02:18or do you think it's appropriate given what you've done for the country?
02:21Well, may I say, sir, if you're suggesting my image upon coin, my image upon script on money,
02:28a $2 bill sounds to me rather Hamiltonian, does it not?
02:32And very much in opposition to my opinion as to what we must or should provide as a likeness on
02:40any coin or script.
02:41But I suggested that the only likeness of any individual upon our coinage,
02:45or even on script, should be one of our fauna,
02:50our animals and mammals of our nation with whom we're familiar with.
02:55A buffalo. I would welcome a buffalo.
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