I have only one problem with this article: the title. Ellis does not claim that "the fourth is a fraud." He claims that it is somewhat arbitrary and that there are several dates with as good a claim. That is hardly a fraud.

I suspect that an editor tried to spice up the essay and draw more attention to it. In any case the title is misleading. This is not good.

Buzz Kill!
My question is was Adams and or Jefferson euthanized?

In celebration of the 4th of July, I offer this essay in defense of our greatest founding father, Thomas Jefferson. I feel Mr. Jefferson's reputation has been unfairly eviscerated by a misrepresentation of the DNA results in the Hemings controversy. The exhumation of discredited, prurient embellishments has not only deluded readers, but impoverished a fair debate. In fact, with the possible exception of the Kennedy assassination, I am unaware of any major historical controversy riddled with so much misinformation and outright inaccuracies as the sex-oriented Sally Hemings libel.
The "Sally" story is pure fiction, possibly politics, but certainly not historical fact or science. It reflects a recycled inaccuracy that has metastasized from book to book, over two hundred years. In contrast to the blizzard of recent books spinning the controversy as a mini-series version of history, I found that layer upon layer of direct and circumstantial evidence points to a mosaic distinctly away from Jefferson. My research, evaluation, and personal interviews led me to one inevitable conclusion: the revisionist grip of historians have the wrong Jefferson--the DNA, as well as other historical evidence, matches perfectly to his younger brother, Randolph and his teen-age sons, as the true candidates for a sexual relationship with Sally.
A monopoly of books (all paternity believers) written since the DNA results have gone far beyond the evidence and transmuted conjecture into apparent fact, and in most instances, engaged in a careless misreading of the record. My new book, IN DEFENSE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON (Thomas Dunne Books, 2009), definitively destroys this myth, separating revisionist ideology from accuracy. It is historical hygiene by pen, an attempt to marshal facts, rationally dissect the evidence and prove beyond reasonable doubt that Jefferson is completely innocent of this sordid charge:
%u2022 the virulent rumor was first started by the scandal-mongering journalist James Callender, who burned for political revenge against Jefferson. Callender was described as "an alcoholic thug with a foul mind, obsessed with race and sex," who intended to defame the public career of Jefferson.
%u2022 the one eyewitness to this sexual allegation was Edmund Bacon, Jefferson's overseer at Monticello, who saw another man (not Jefferson) leaving Sally's room 'many a morning.' Bacon wrote: "...I have seen him come out of her mother's room many a morning when I went up to Monticello very early."
%u2022 Jefferson's deteriorating health would have prevented any such sexual relationship. He was 64 at the time of the alleged affair and suffered debilitating migraine headaches which incapacitated him for weeks, as well as severe intestinal infections and rheumatoid arthritis. He complained to John Adams: "My health is entirely broken down within the last eight months."
%u2022 Jefferson owned three different slaves named Sally, adding to the historical confusion. Yet, he never freed his supposed lover and companion of 37 years, 'Sally Hemings' from her enslavement, nor mentioned her in his will.
%u2022 Randolph Jefferson, his younger brother, would have the identical Jefferson Y chromosome as his older brother, Thomas, that matched the DNA. Randolph had a reputation for socializing with Jefferson's slaves and was expected at Monticello approximately nine months before the birth of Eston Hemings, Sally's son who was the DNA match for a "male Jefferson."
%u2022 The DNA match was to a male son of Sally's. Randolph had six male sons. Thomas Jefferson had all female children with his beloved wife, Martha, except for a male who died in infancy.
%u2022 Until 1976, the oral history of Eston's family held that they descended from a Jefferson "uncle." Randolph was known at Monticello as "Uncle Randolph."
%u2022 Unlike his brother, by taste and training Jefferson was raised as the perfect Virginia gentleman, a man of refinement and intellect. The personality of the man who figures in the Hemings soap opera cannot be attributed to the known nature of Jefferson, and would be preposterously out of character for him.

William G. Hyland Jr.
Attorney at Law
Tampa, FL.

Or maybe we celebrate the Fourth because the first words on that piece of paper in the National Archives reads: "In CONGRESS. July 4, 1776.

I reckon it is Ellis who is the fraud.

As was pointed out over at The Corner: "that piece of parchment in the National Archives, the first words printed, right there at the very top say: "In CONGRESS. July 4, 1776.""

"Why, then, did July 4 become the preferred date for our annual celebration?"
That you could write this piece without mentioning that the first line of the Declaration is "In Congress, July 4, 1776." is simply amazing.

Silly thought, but maybe July 4th was picked because that's the date at the top of the Declaration of Independence?

well, if it's wrong, at least we have surity about christmas and easter.

I read in THE STARGATE CONSPIRACY book - that in the mid-nineties the current Pope of the Catholic church came out with a statement that December 25th is not Jesus Christ's real birthday.

So this development does not come as a surprise to me. Although I still feel astrologically wise - the United States' sun sign is Cancer. I recently read an article at astro.com related to astrological prediction, that Russia's sun sign is Scorpio. That makes a lot of sense!

In terms of Jefferson's draft - I read somewhere that Franklin and others initially said they would help Jefferson with the draft - but for whatever reason left him holding the bag. Some mysterious guy shows up in clothes of black and was Jefferson's real collaborator.

Franklin, the alleged genius, wanted the turkey to be the bird representing the United States. Maybe he was struck by lightning one too many times - cause we got the Eagle instead - which relates to our military policy through the centuries.

Napoleon supposedly had a mysterious military advisor.

History is always open for revision.

One other comment is that the United States represents the initial planetary experiment in terms of "democracy".

Today, July 4th, we celebrate the evolution of this experiment, one way or the other.

Whether or not you are into "The New World Order" or "The New Weird Order" - the United States - was depicted somewhere in the 1970's - I read this - that our country is the "pilot tv program" for the rest of our planet.

For better or worse - we as citizens of this country - are in a so-called "marriage" based upon the ideals that were first presented with the underpinnings of what we now reference as "Democracy" and what that awakened Frenchman, de Toqueville (sp?) was immediately fascinated with to study as an alternative to the monarchy system of government and the theocratic system of government (that is now being exemplified in Iran).

We celebrate today the evolved experiment in "democracy".

Thank God that article was divided into two page. I mean it was just so long and intricate. (sarcasm)

Just goes to prove that even history isn't perfectly recorded.

Wonder what will be written about the past ten years?

Right, Daily Beast, that's three strikes. Tone down your goddamn headlines! Stop making good articles look bad by comparison to false advertising at the head of the page.

Good article, but I guess it's more democratic to memorialize the day the people heard about the independence proposed for them. The double death on July 4 is good reason too.

Mr. Ellis: I am very glad you wrote this piece. There are many historians and they have written many books. It is sometimes hard to know what histories to spend one's valuable time with. Having read this brief, nonsense crap of of yours, I know I can now take a pass on reading your longer works. Thanks! Oh, and happen Independence Day/4th of July!