A Famous Friendship and the Poisonous Power of Politics

Looking at the relationship between Washington and Jefferson, Francis Coglinao’s ‘A Revolutionary Friendship’ too often loses sight of its purpose.

"A Revolutionary Friendship" tells more about the social and political era of its subjects than about the relationship between these Founding Fathers.

What was the relationship between the two most famous Americans—George Washington and Thomas Jefferson—like?

In his new book “A Revolutionary Friendship: Washington, Jefferson, and the American Republic,” Francis D. Cogliano tries to dispel the commonly held view that the two were already “estranged” long before politics poisoned their friendship. This goal is only partially accomplished yet the book is worth reading for spurring reflections on partisanship today.