Odyssey Tours, America Tours, Lewis and Clark, Adventure or Bus Tours

               Humanities scholar
                              Clay S. Jenkinson

Valerie Naylor Photo

Letter from Clay Jenkinson
" I am proud and a little surprised to be a Chautauquan"

When my professional life began, I never expected to spend a significant portion of it "in tights." I am a shy man and I never dreamed of dressing up like dead historical figures. Until I first donned a wig and spoke self-evident truths on behalf of Thomas Jefferson (1987). I had never been in a theater production, except as the Chief Messenger in my 3rd grade's production of Cinderella.

I do love portraying historical figures, now that I have gotten used to it. I've performed as more than a dozen great men over the years, in a dizzying range of settings, in kindergartens and maximum security prisons. I am happy to confess that I touched off a prison riot once in southern California. I've been arrested in costume mistaken for Ben Franklin, a golf pro, and the valet parking attendant, but I've also had the honor of performing for U.S. Presidents, 25 state legislatures, national judicial conferences, and the irrepressible miscreant Stephen Colbert.

My one iron commitment is to rigorous historical research and mastery of the material. Beyond that, I like to play with ideas and bring history alive by treating it not like a sacred relic but as an unresolved narrative about that which is noble, that which is appalling, and that which is merely routine in human affairs. Like my hero Jefferson, I believe in the leavening power of ideas, and the importance of a public conversation about the great issues of our experience. Unlike Jefferson, I believe that humor is the lubricant. Thank you for your interest in my work. Clay S. Jenkinson

Clay is the creator of the Thomas Jefferson Hour. with host David Swenson at Makoche Studios in North Dakota. The program is produced by The Dakota Institute through The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, and is dedicated to the furtherance of Thomas Jefferson's dream for America. Find an affiliate near you or listen to the program at Clay's website www.jeffersonhour.com

If you would like to watch a few of Clay's live performances, you can order your own tape at www.fortmandan.com, call (701) 462-4535, or go to the website above.

Clay is the author of several books including, Becoming Jefferson's People: Re-Inventing the American Republic in the Twenty-first Century, Message on the Wind, A Spiritual Odyssey on the Northern Plains, his first book, a memoir to his early years in North Dakota, The Character of Meriwether Lewis, Completely Metamorphosed in the American West, A Vast and Open Plain, The Writings of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in North Dakota, 1804-1806. If you would like to order one of his books contact: Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation
www.fortmandan.com or call (701) 462-4535.

Clay Jenkinson resides at his home in Bismarck, North Dakota. When he is not traveling on business he spends time with his daughter Catherine Missouri. Otherwise you can find Clay hosting a dinner party, hiking a North Dakota butte, reading a classic novel or a new bound book, writing a column for his local community newspaper, working in his "Situation Room", or     ,,,, leading one of our Odyssey cultural tours.

Visit Clay Jenkinson's website at: www.jeffersonhour.com

Read Clay Jenkinson's weekly news column at: www.bismarcktribune.com (scroll to the bottom left for Jenkinson link)

Listen to the Thomas Jefferson Hour at: www.makochemedia.com/mp3s/tjhour_window.html

Clay has a new book on Meriwether Lewis to be released the first week in November. Just in time for Christmas purchases. You can purchase Clay Jenkinson books or CDs at: www.fortmandan.com

Attend the next Dakota Institute Symposium: September 11, 2011 on the tenth anniversary of America's 9-11
www.fortmandan.com/calendar

Find information on the next Clay Jenkinson public event:
www.jeffersonhour.com

Book Clay Jenkinson for an event: Contact Nancy Franke: nfranke@comcast.net or call her at (360) 805-0977.

                                                               with humanities scholar Clay S. Jenkinson
                 Telephone 208-791-8721 ~ Fax 208-746-06255 ~ email bek@odytours.net
                                                        www.odytours.net