Thomas Jefferson and George Washington likely met for the first time in Williamsburg in 1769 when they were both delegates in the House of Burgesses. They knew each other for three decades until Washington's death in 1799. To some extent Washington preoccupied Jefferson, who lived for another generation, for the rest of his life. While they shared much in common as Virginia planters and revolutionaries, Washington and Jefferson are normally presented as adversaries, largely owing to political differences between the two men in the 1790s.

Professor Frank Cogliano explores issues and challenges confronting the scholar seeking to understand the relationship between these two men. He employs metaphors, comparing the historical figures to high school characters, to help unpack this historical relationship.

The "Fellows Forum" with Frank Cogliano, Professor of American History and Dean International (North America), University of Edinburgh was presented by the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello.