Getting Jefferson Right Again
More stories fact-checked in 3rd edition and in new season of Telling Jefferson Lies
The 1st edition of Getting Jefferson Right: Fact-Checking Claim About Thomas Jefferson was published in 2012 just after David Barton’s The Jefferson Lies was published by Thomas Nelson. My co-author Michael Coulter and I released a Kindle version first and then a paperback a month or so later. Immediately, our book put Barton under pressure to answer for his historical misadventures. Eventually, Thomas Nelson stopped publishing The Jefferson Lies in August of 2012.
It was unprecedented for Thomas Nelson to make a move like that. They cited a loss of confidence in the books claims. I later found out that our book had a lot to do with that. Last year, I reported the details of the entire story in the first season of the podcast series Telling Jefferson Lies.
In 2016, Barton brought out a 2nd edition of The Jefferson Lies published by far-right internet opinion website WorldNetDaily. He claimed to refute our criticisms and update his book. The publicity for the book claimed Thomas Nelson pulled the 1st edition due to political correctness.
It took awhile but in 2023, we brought out a 2nd edition of Getting Jefferson Right in response. As soon as we did, we became aware of some additional material we wanted to add and decided to give it one last update. While there might always be more material, we have decided this edition is it for awhile. So now we have available a 3rd edition of the book. We even have the story of Mike Johnson’s false Jefferson prayer in here.
This past week a copy of this book was sent to every member of Congress and also provided to all who registered for the Religion News Association Conference in Arlington, VA. I exhibited there during the conference held April 3-5. I enjoyed meeting journalists and writers who cover the religion beat and learned a lot about various religious perspectives.
While I was in DC, I was able to meet with Congressional staff to discuss the assault on the principle of separation of church and state. I was encouraged to learn that some members of Congress had listened to Telling Jefferson Lies and found it helpful.
Speaking of the podcast, the first segment of season two comes out Monday April 14, the day after Thomas Jefferson’s birthday. It will feature Brian Kaylor discussing the story behind the myth of Mike Johnson’s fake Jefferson prayer for the nation.
Speaking of Word and Way editor Brian Kaylor, he was at the RNA convention as well.
While this may seem like a special interest book about Jefferson, it is more than that. David Barton’s influence has expanded during Trump 2.0 and so it is important to know how to answer the false claims he makes. This book is part of that preparation. Even though the podcast has Jefferson’s name on it, it is a much broader effort to debunk the myth of a Christian founding. I hope you find it helpful.
Good job, Warren and Michael! Can't thank you enough for your integrity and hard work.
If we make it through this madness, it will be in no small part due to men like the two of you. You have dedicated yourselves to the truth during the years I have known you.
On this subject, you have tenaciously and faithfully countered a cornerstone lie in the Christian Nationalist toolbox—the idea that the United States was established as a Christian nation and should be governed as such to this day. I sincerely hope your work convinces those of all faiths, but particularly Christians, that such governance would be disastrous for the sacred and secular alike. Our system of separation has made possible an unprecedented freedom of belief and thought, while creating a foundation on which greater equality has been—and continues to be—pursued. Recent events only go to show the tyranny that results from disregarding that wise truth.
Congratulations on the third edition, and I look forward to the new podcast!