[gogipper]

Hamilton's biography (recently out) details how personal and negative these campaigns were. My impression from the book was that the party of Jefferson (currently the Democrats) were the nastiest and most personal and I couldn't help thinking that this legacy plays out today.

[nopardons]

You're right...and when Jefferson was libeled (the Sally Hemmings story),it was by the very man,he had employed to dig up/manufacture and fling dirt over his opponents. But when he didn't payoff,to that man's desire,the tables were turned on Jefferson,himself,with a totally made up story!