Gayle Jessup White, part of new Thomas Jefferson docuseries Interview

Gayle Jessup White joins Mendte in the Morning to talk about the new Thomas Jefferson documentary coming out on Monday. Gayle discusses her family lineage to Jefferson and what she learned about Jefferson in her research.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Here with us now is Gail Jessep White. She is
a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and part of the
new Thomas Jefferson docu series on the History Channel, premiering
February seventeenth. That's Monday, Gail, thanks so much for being
here today. I know Thomas Jefferson is one of the

(00:21):
most fascinating founding fathers and one of the most fascinating
people in American history because he had so many things
great about him, but he was also greatly flawed. And
I know you're a direct descendant. So before we talk
about the docu series, can you talk about your journey
in finding your lineage.

Speaker 2 (00:44):
I Ken, good morning, Good morning, How are you good. Yes,
I am from Washington, DC, and when I was thirteen
years old learned through all history that our family is
descended from Jefferson. I did not quite believe it, but
there was enough of a kernel of truth there for me,

(01:06):
as a curious young person, to want to pursue the
origins of the story. So I literally spent forty five
years of my life trying to uncover the truth of
whether our family, through my dad, was descended from Thomas
Jefferson and after joining the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which has

(01:31):
oversight of Monticello, the estate where Thomas Jefferson, his white family,
its black family, and hundreds of enslaved people lived. I
did effect prove that we are descending from Jefferson and
his wife Martha through one of their great great grandsons.
I'm also related to the Hemmings family. Most of your

(01:53):
listeners would know that Sally Henriings was Jefferson's enslaved concubine.
That's their word. Historical work that was used to describe her.
Related to her as well through one of her brothers.
So it's a story that is as complex as American history.

Speaker 1 (02:11):
Well, because of what you found, how do you feel
about Thomas Jefferson now? Personally?

Speaker 2 (02:19):
Well, Jefferson. Most of us grew up seeing Jefferson and
all the Founders as heroes, as almost godlike figures, but
it's important for people to view them as humans and
as humans. They were flawed, as we all are. So

(02:43):
I see Jefferson no longer through a child's eyes or
the eyes of a hero worshiper, but I see Jefferson
as a person who made mistakes, who was had fodbles,
who who did damage to people personally. I mean, Jefferson

(03:04):
sold human beings. He owned and sold and gifted human beings.
But I also recognized that Jefferson was courageous and that
he stood up to tyranny, that he helped create the
foundations of the democracy in which we live, and so
for that I hold him in high regard as a
human being. He was a flawed person, he was, And.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
I visited Monticello, and I left there with a completely
different opinion of Thomas Jefferson. And it's not that I
like you. I don't appreciate the great things that he
did and what a wonderful writer he was, especially, but
you can't walk away from Monticello without seeing the other

(03:47):
side of the man and disliking that. My wife dislikes
it intensely. We went away from that with a completely
different opinion. All of this, I'm sure is shown in
your documentary.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
Well, that's the great thing about this documentary that will
begin airing on the History Channel Monday the seventeenth. I
believe that's President's Day, so it's a great time to
inaugurate this three day event. It is an honest view
of American history, and I speak of this as American history,

(04:24):
because indeed, Jefferson and the people he enslaved represent who
we are as Americans and our history. So it's a
wonderful opportunity for viewers to learn who we are. Oh
that not just too, Jefferson was.

Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, that's perfect. That's extremely well said. And I learned
a lot when I was down there, and I look
forward to your documentary airing on Monday night on the
History Channel. Thomas Jefferson Docuseries. Gail jesseb White direct descended
Tomas Jefferson. I so much appreciate your time.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Thank you. I enjoy talking with you.

Speaker 1 (05:05):
Larry, I enjoyed talking with you as well.