The Scientist Turned Spy: André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Conspiracy of 1793

We the People

National Constitution Center

History, News Commentary, News

4.6 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 5 September 2024

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On September 17, Constitution Day, Patrick Spero—the incoming chief executive officer of the American Philosophical Society’s Library & Museum in Philadelphia—will release his new book, The Scientist Turned Spy: André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Conspiracy of 1793. It explores the incredible story of an explorer, André Michaux, drawn into a plot orchestrated by the French government to exploit tensions between American settlers and Spanish authorities in the Louisiana region, with the aim of setting up an independent republic. In this episode, Spero joins Jeffrey Rosen to discuss the history of this conspiracy and explore new evidence implicating Thomas Jefferson in the plot, as well as the American Philosophical Society and Jefferson’s role in it. Resources: The Scientist Turned Spy: André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Conspiracy of 1793 (2024) Stay Connected and Learn More: Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected].  Continue today’s conversation on Facebook and Twitter using @ConstitutionCtr.  Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly.  You can find transcripts for each episode on the podcast pages in our Media Library. Donate

Transcript

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0:00.0	On September 17th, Constitution Day, the historian Patrick Spiro, will release a new book,
0:06.0	The Scientist Turned Spy, Andrei Micho, Thomas Jefferson, and the conspiracy of 1793.
0:12.0	It explores a plot orchestrated by the... and the conspiracy of 1793.
0:13.0	It explores a plot orchestrated by the French government to exploit tensions between American
0:18.2	settlers and Spanish authorities in Louisiana by establishing an independent republic.
0:24.0	Hello friends, I'm Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center
0:32.0	and welcome to We The People, a weekly show of constitutional debate.
0:36.5	The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit charted by Congress to increase awareness
0:41.8	and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
0:45.6	In this episode of We The People will discuss the history of the Michelle conspiracy and explore
0:50.1	new evidence that Patrick Spiro has unearthed in the archives of the American
0:54.3	Philosophical Society that implicate Thomas Jefferson in the plot.
0:58.6	We'll also hear from Patrick about the American Philosophical Society and Jefferson's role in leading it.
1:04.8	Patrick Spiro joins me now.
1:06.4	He is incoming CEO of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.
1:10.9	He's a scholar of early American history history and he specializes in the American Revolution.
1:15.2	Patrick, it's wonderful to welcome you to We the People.
1:18.0	Great to be here, Jeff.
1:20.0	The National Constitution Center is one of my favorite places to visit.
1:23.1	It's where I've got my first job.
1:25.2	It is an inspiring place and it's great to be here with a great friend and neighbor.
1:30.0	Well, the American Philosophical Society is one of my favorite places to visit, and I'm always so excited when I get to walk across Independence Mall and have lunch with you because you have this cabin of treasures, the Jefferson's original draft of the Constitution and much more.
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