Right before the 1796 presidential election, Charlie Gibson of ABC interviewed Thomas Jefferson. However, the version that aired and the actual transcript were quite different. Mark Levine got a hold of the original text and released it on his website, where it is faithfully reproduced here. Deleted parts are marked as such. Inserted parts (by ABC) are marked as such.

Gibson: Governor, can you look the country in the eye and say “I have the experience and I have the ability to be not just vice president, but perhaps president of the United States of America?”

Jefferson: I do not believe there is any question that I am ready, Charlie.

Gibson: You did say to yourself, “Am I ready?”

Jefferson: I didn’t hesitate, no.

Gibson: You did?

Jefferson: I - I think yes that I have little confidence in folks who can’t make up their own minds and I know that you can‘t even blink.

So I didn’t blink then even when asked to run as his running mate.

Gibson: This is about also running a young government in a very unstable world. When I asked Republican leaders about your security credentials, they cited the fact that Virginia is across the Ocean from Britain. Are those sufficient credentials?

Jefferson: I also was ambassador to France, also lived in France which I believe should be taken into consideration

Gibson: I’m just saying that national security is a whole lot more than French chateaus.

Jefferson: It is, but I want you to not lose sight of the fact that ambassador to France is more than just living in a house. It’s that important. It’s that significant.

Gibson: Did you ever travel outside the country prior to your trip to France?

Jefferson: No, of course not. I’m a stupid American. Sorry, my sarcasm got the better of me. No duh, I traveled other places!

Gibson: Have you ever met a foreign leader?

Jefferson: Yes, including King Louis XVI, Loménie de Brienne, and Jacques Necker.

Gibson: Who is Jacques Necker?

Jefferson: Finance minister, a very unimportant job.

Gibson: Oh. I’m talking about somebody who’s a head of state, who can negotiate for that country. Ever met one?

Jefferson: I have not. Didn’t you just hear me?

Gibson: Let me ask you about some specific national security situations.

Jefferson: Sure.

Gibson: Let’s start with England and France.

The administration has said we’ve got to ignore the French Republican rebels. Do you believe the United States should try to restore French sovereignty over the revolution?

I believe that the French monarchy were tyrannical and that Louis deserved his beheading.

Gibson: All the French beheaded? Really? OK, I know you want to respond to that point, but we’ll break here and move on to the Washington doctrine. Do you agree with the Washington doctrine?

Jefferson: In what respect, Charlie?

Gibson: The Washington - well, what do you - what do you interpret it to be?

Jefferson: His world view.

Gibson: No, the Washington doctrine, enunciated before the Revolutionary war.

Jefferson: I believe that what President Washington has attempted to do is rid give this country of dealing with the British the chance to deal with the British favorably. There have been blunders along the way, though. There have been mistakes made. And with new leadership, and that’s the beauty of American elections, of course, and democracy, is with new leadership comes opportunity to do things better.

Gibson: The Washington doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense, that we have the right to a preemptive strike against any other country that we think is going to attack us. Also, the Federalists believe that France is a deadly threat. Do you agree with that?

Jefferson: I do not agree with the French threat idea.

I know that Aaron Burr will do that and I, as his vice president, if we are blessed with that vote of the American people and are elected to serve and are sworn in on January 20, that will not be our top priority and well will not defend the American people.

Gibson: So, do you belived your are experienced enough?

Jefferson: I…

Gibson: Oh darn, out of time. For the completely Federalist-leaning non-partisan ABC News, I’m Charlie Gibson. Thank you for watching the most non-biased news station in the country.