Jefferson's architecture

Last night's reading was actually pretty interesting to me. For one, I like the idea that one of our Founding Fathers developed interests in other areas, and became a pretty skilled professional at it. How many of our politicians these days are known for designing college campuses as a way of making a political statement? I think it would be important if our political leaders were involved in communities in more ways than just representing them - why not be skilled in architecture or landscaping or community-event-planning or managing local businesses? There's a certain comfort in knowing that our politicians are also one of us, not just an abstract sort of figure. Remember when the locals could have dinner at the White House? Just walk right in and say "Hey" to the president? Obviously we have crazy people now a days and security is definitely a necessity, but if our governors or senators could find more ways than one to relate to their populace - more ways to connect on an everyday level, to be more like one of us.

I also like the idea that Jefferson used architecture to make a political statement - to make it as unlike European/British architecture as much as possible, to make distinct differences from already-known structures, and to tie in the American spirit with the materials he used. It's a subtle but pretty effective way of creating a new identity for the newly independent people, to create a sense of American structure and ornamentation, American ideas of living.