More From Jon Meacham On Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was a deeply political man who viciously fought for his beliefs, but he was also flawed. More than simply accepting slavery, Jefferson benefited from it in many ways — though, through the language of the Declaration, he may have set in motion its eventual disintegration. We hear more from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham ("Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power") about how this contradictory president wielded power and influence, and how he shaped America’s evolution.

Also this hour: the state's Joint Task Force on Education Funding met last week to hear proposals for how to fund Washington state schools in the coming years. We talk with state Senator Steve Litzow. Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess stops by to talk about his run for mayor. And have you ever thought about breaking into the children's book biz? Author Jill Brazier joins us with a how-to.