To some, Thomas Jefferson’s declaration that “all men are created equal” is the height of American greatness. To others, given Jefferson’s ownership of slaves, it represents the height of hypocrisy. Where you fall probably depends upon how you interpret the word “equal” — which is the topic of Gordon Wood’s Bradley Lecture, “Thomas Jefferson and the Idea of Equality.”

To discuss Jefferson’s complicated legacy and Wood’s analysis, we welcome to the podcast Nicole Penn, AEI researcher, Virginia Dynasty expert, and fearless disentangler of Jeffersonian contradictions.

This lecture was originally delivered at AEI in January 1995.

Listen to the full lecture here.