Did Thomas Jefferson once shoot a man on the Whitehouse lawn for treason?

Answer 1

I've studied Thomas Jefferson for many years and have never heard this story. My searching will continue but so far is negative. Neither can I find a Robert Ludlum Phd. at the University of Wisconsin (or any University) but there is a Robert Ludlum author.

In the movie Swordfish (film) John Travolta's character mentions Jefferson killing someone on the White House lawn, hardly a stellar reference.

At this point sans any checkable source, I find no reason to believe this story. In addition, this is outside of the character of Thomas Jefferson. I have copies of all of his correspondence and there is no mention of a Rodney Ludlum. In his letters his mentionings of treason are schollarly opinions with the only death penalty mentioned as hanging.

Further, the assertion that Thomas Jefferson was Anglophobic is also outside of character. He relied heavily on English history and culture in his contribution to the Founding of the United States, as did other Founders. Reliance on English Common Law, Magna Carta, such as John Locke (and other English sources) dominated his works.

If someone has a real source on this I would appreciate being so informed. Reference to the opinion of someone else who has reference to the words of yet another (who's existence and words are not verifiable) doesn’t constitute proof.

Answer 2

There is a very persistent story that Thomas Jefferson personally executed someone on the White House lawn for treason; some sites name the prisoner as a Rodney Cox from North Carolina.[1] We have no evidence that this event ever occurred: no such thing is ever mentioned in Jefferson's papers, or contemporary newspaper accounts. The story, as far as we know, originated entirely with the movie Swordfish (2001), where it is mentioned by John Travolta's character, Gabriel Shear.

Answer 3

I've studied Jefferson my entire life and occasionally this story pops up but never with any credible reference. I am friendw with Jefferson scholar Joseph Ellis (author of Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx) and I e-mailed him several months ago and asked him this very question. He too had heard the rumors but in his exhaustive research he admitted that he has NEVER found any official verification of this story. Being an historian I have to rely solely on facts and not rumors, therefore I have to conclude, that until some hard evidence emerges to support this claim I do not believe it. As for Robert Ludlum PhD, I checked my sources for the PhDs to come out of the U. of Wisconsin and I didn't find ANYONE by that name to earn a PhD from that institution.

Sounds like yet another historical legend.

Answer 4

This question was asked a year ago and here is the best answer it recieved

Best Answer - Chosen By Voters

Yes. It is true. During Jefferson's presidential administration, Rodney Cox, from North Carolina was discovered in the act of providing former Tories with information regarding the American naval forces capability to secure American shores. After a brief ad hoc trial, Cox was convicted and sentenced to death by firing squad. Jefferson, being a notorious Anglophobic at the time, served as the sole member of the firing squad. With a single bullet dispatched from a flint lock rifle, Cox received a fatal wound. It took 10 hours for Cox to expire, during which he lay prostrate on the White House lawn. Afterwards, he was committed to the sea in a right proper burial, albeit, without any fanfare.

Source(s):
Robert Ludlum, PhD, American History, U. Wisconsin

1 year ago

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

yeah he did...i was there...