Statesmanship and Ethics: The Case of Thomas Jefferson's Dirty Hands |
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| Authors: | Stephanie P. Newbold |
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| Affiliation: | PhD at the Center for Public Administration and Policy at Virginia Tech. Her research interests include public-sector ethics, administrative history, political theory, and public management. She has worked for the Office of the White House Chief of Staff and the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello. E-mail: . |
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| Abstract: | The topic of statesmanship has been largely neglected by public administration scholars. This article underscores the moral dilemmas and implications that arise when statesmen abandon their principles for the good of the state, as was the case when Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France without congressional consent. This example draws our attention to the important connections between statesmanship and administrative ethics. Jefferson's decision to abandon his strict constructionist principles to acquire Louisiana illustrates the ethical complexities of public administration, public management, and the democratic governance process. |
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