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"Some Jefferson family members, however, dispute Hemings' family ties to the third president and have refused her descendants membership in the family's exclusive Monticello Association."

Since there is no certain proof I don't believe that we should sully the reputation of a man based on guesses and myths. Those who despise our Republic rejoice in pulling down particularly the early founders with whatever immorality they can dream up in their muddled heads so that men of honor can be dishonored.

My grown daughter and I got into a battle of words with a Monticello docent a few years ago on this issue. They were stating as truth what had not even been tested but had only been imagined. An entire group of people went away believing that lie about a man who should be respected. THAT is immoral.

I always believed that he did father some children by slaves. What would make him any different than any other master back then? He was a human being after all. Doesn't take away from what he did for this country though.

I too disputed the Monticello docents, in the presence of a black family who WANTED to believe the worst of Jefferson.

The horror of slavery is that he could have screwed Sally if he wanted to. He OWNED her.

But we hope that his sense of honor stopped him.

After all, he was no BJ Clinton!