The Lesser of Two Evils

I read the letters later.
Years later.
And I saw what he wrote.

"Mr. Jefferson, though a radical, has pretensions to character."
"Mr. Burr is a man of irregular ambition."
"Mr. Jefferson has views. They are wrong, but they are views."
"Mr. Burr has none. He is empty. He is news."
He stood up in the meeting of the Federalist clan.
And he begged them to vote for his enemy, the man.
He chose the hypocrite over the friend.
He chose the beginning over the end.

The Lesser of Two Evils.
Is that what I am to you?
Not a rival, not an equal, but a devil in the view?
You trust the man who preaches freedom while he owns slaves?
Over the man who fights beside you and behaves?
The Lesser of Two Evils.
You drew a line in the sand.
And you cut off my hand.

"Burr is distinct. Burr is dangerous."
"Burr is far more cunning than any of us."
You paint me as a monster to save your own pride.
Because you know that I have nothing to hide.
I am exactly what you see.
A man who wants to be free.
But you… you need a villain to make yourself a hero.
So you reduced me to zero.

You made Jefferson the President.
And you made me… nothing.
Just a placeholder.
A Vice President with a target on his back.

The Lesser of Two Evils.
I will remember this phrase.
I will remember it for all of my days.
You chose him.
And in choosing him, you chose your fate.
It’s too late.
It’s too late.

I am not evil, Alexander.
I’m just… disappointed.