My all-time favorite hero of American democracy was born 258 years ago-Thomas Jefferson.

The world was a different place two-and-a-half centuries ago, and it hadn't changed a lot by July 4, 1776, when colonial delegates approved Jefferson's Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.

For 17 days and nights in a rented room in Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson put into words his ideas that became the cornerstone of the American republic: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that governments can legitimately rule only with the consent of the governed and may be abolished by the people. That was radical stuff back then. It still is.

Being a journalist, maybe one reason I admire Jefferson so much is because of his insistence on a free press. "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without [free] newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate to prefer the latter," he said.

Later on, though, Jefferson came under vicious press attacks, often for his belief in the separation of church and state. When he was President, Jefferson proposed that editors divide newspapers into four sections or chapters:

1. Truths
2. Probabilities
3. Possibilities
4. Lies

"The first chapter would probably be very short," he said.

Here's more about Thomas Jefferson, in his own words:

"I am for government rigorously frugal and simple."

"Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread."

"If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy."

Thanks, Mr. Jefferson, for making us what we are and for pointing the way to what we might become.