Many noted actors read lines of various historical figures. A series of American university professors of history and political figures discussed background information. Actors included: •
Ossie Davis – Narrator •
Sam Waterston – Thomas Jefferson •
Blythe Danner – Martha Jefferson •
Gwyneth Paltrow – Jefferson's granddaughter •
Philip Bosco as Sam Adams Historians and political commentators included:
Daniel Boorstin, Andrew Burstein,
Joseph Ellis,
Clay S. Jenkinson,
Gore Vidal,
George Will,
Garry Wills,
John Hope Franklin, James Oliver Horton and
Julian Bond. A topic of Jefferson's private life was the long-rumored liaison between Jefferson and his
mixed-race slave
Sally Hemings. She was a half-sister to his late wife and the daughter of
John Wayles and his slave
Betty Hemings; Sally was three-quarters white. The white historians gave all the reasons they believed Jefferson would not have done it. Black historians discussed "reality and inevitability." Noted historian
John Hope Franklin referred to all the
mulattos of the period and said, "These things [interracial liaisons] were part of the natural landscape in Virginia, and Mr. Jefferson was as likely as any others to have done this because it's in character with the times—and indeed, with him, who believed in exploiting these people that he controlled completely." Ellis and Burstein were among those who commented publicly about their change in thinking. ==See also==