Today’s blog looks at Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. Check my previous posts to find the rankings for Washington and the first Adams. 

Thomas Jefferson 3rd President (1801-1809)

Score: 81/120 total points (67.5% ideal)

Adams, a Federalist, inherited “non-partisan” Washington’s exclusively Federalist Party cabinet. Adams, who was something of an independent moderate, saw Alexander Hamilton’s existing influence on his cabinet members as a major drag on his presidency.  Hamilton demanded Adams to use him and his cronies as key advisers for their party’s policy just as Washington had, but Adams proved to be less malleable.