Dave Sagarin Champions Aaron Burr

Aaron Burr Jr. is widely believed to have been a scoundrel. But I think that the history of his time has largely been written by people partial to his antagonist, Thomas Jefferson--and at least one person in Virginia should stand up for Burr.

For example, in the election of 1800 Jefferson was the presidential candidate (Democratic-Republican) with Burr for Vice President. But they each received 73 electoral votes, and the election was put into the House of Representatives to decide. It was tied there, ballot after ballot for five days, until Alexander Hamilton, the story goes, used his influence to persuade a (Federalist) Congressman to change his vote from Burr to Jefferson.

We Burrites believe that Jefferson struck a secret (and corrupt) deal with Hamilton, leader of the Federalists--inimical to Jeffersonian ideals.

And remember, these guys--Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Burr--were all part of a leadership group who had known each other over a long period of time--serving together in the Revolutionary War (Burr saved Hamilton's life, during the retreat from Manhattan), developing the Constitution and holding elected and appointed office during the Washington and Adams administrations. Burr and Hamilton, along with George Clinton and John Jay, were the founders of the Erasmus Hall school in Brooklyn. In fact Hamilton had squired the charming widow, Dolley Payne Todd, in Philadelphia only to lose out to James Madison--and it was Burr who had introduced her to Madison.

My only fear is that people will think the plate reads, BURRITO and will completely misunderstand the message. (Dave Sagarin, November 4, 2003)

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