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Article: Pruning Thomas Jefferson's Family Tree; Historians' Report Attacks Theory That 3rd President Fathered Slave's Children
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- April 13, 2001
- Author:
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A commission of scholars issued a report yesterday challenging an
earlier study that had indicated Thomas Jefferson fathered children
with his slave Sally Hemings. After a year of work, the commission
said it was more likely that Jefferson's younger brother Randolph was
responsible.
The release of the 550-page report by a panel of 13 scholars from
across the country came as President Bush hosted a gathering in honor
of Jefferson's birthday that a White House spokesman said included
"both family members from [Jefferson's] marriage with Martha Wayles
Jefferson and his descendants from Sally Hemings."
The new study is not likely to quiet the long-running controversy
over the parentage of Sally ...