Experience the American dream with today’s Patriot of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s the eve of July 4, 1826. I’m at the home of John Adams with his granddaughter, Susanna. We’ve just received news that the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, has passed away.
JG: “Susana, does your grandfather know Mr. Jefferson has passed away?”
SA: “Mr. Gillespie, my grandfather just passed away also at about 6:20, and his last words were, “Thomas Jefferson survives.”
Ironically, the voice of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams, and the pen of the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, both died on July 4, 1826.
Read more about the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
John and Jan Gillespie are the founders of the Rawhide Boys’ Ranch; they have fostered 351 teenagers and wrote the book Our 351 Sons; they have also assisted numerous churches in developing youth programs and expanding their total church ministries. After running for U.S. Senate, John founded 1776 American Dream, which exists to demonstrate the vision of our founding fathers and help our generation of youth passionately embrace those values.
