Nathan Raab

“The breadth of knowledge that [Jefferson] brought to this letter, the many subjects in which he is completely conversant. He’s talking to a prominent scientist as well.”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab praised the breadth of knowledge Jefferson displayed in the letter while addressing a prominent scientist.

“Things change, yet things stay the same, and here we are confronting many of the same issues that were on the lips of our founding fathers, or the tip of their quills, back in 1787.”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab noted that the country continues to confront many of the same issues the founding fathers faced in 1787.

“These are fundamental issues that, really, have faced our country for a long time. Of all the issues that have come and gone – isolation, war, peace – on the other end spending and debt have remained.”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab discussed how spending and debt have remained persistent issues for the country since its founding.

“He had no way of knowing. He wouldn’t know for weeks.”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab observed that Jefferson would not have known the convention had finished on the day he wrote the letter.

“Digging out of a hole of debt, funding not only the war debts but also the creation of this new country, was something that was very much an issue,”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab explained that funding war debts and the creation of the new country were pressing issues addressed in Jefferson's letter.

“Leaving out the various partisan positions, the prescience here is that the same issues that the founding fathers were dealing with during the constitutional convention of the founding of our country are issues that still make headlines today,”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab commented on the parallels between issues addressed by the founding fathers and those still making headlines in 2026.

“The important warning that he offers at the end is just so relevant today, it’s impossible to miss. I think it’s intentional that he saved that to the end of the letter. And the idea that Jefferson, a very famous book buyer and collector, is sending books to another founding father, David Rittenhouse, and the book is still together with the letter, that’s just incredible.”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab highlighted the relevance of Jefferson's closing warning and the rarity of the book still being together with the letter.

“What I love about this letter is it’s kind of a general warning. He’s not saying, ‘So and so said this, and therefore we must counter with this message.’ He’s giving in one broad stroke what he feels should be the priorities of the convention and the country.”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab described Jefferson's letter as a general warning outlining the priorities he felt the convention and country should adopt.

“This is at the very top,”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab said he had never seen anything as impressive as the Jefferson letter and book given to Rittenhouse.

“He kept in contact with people who were involved in the convention and was in the loop as much as you could be when a letter took three weeks or so to reach England. But he certainly didn’t have updated information, which is illustrated by the fact that the day he wrote this letter, the convention finished.”

Nathan Raab · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Raab noted that Jefferson corresponded with convention participants but lacked updated information due to the time letters took to travel.