In many ways their relationship was the political history of this country in microcosm.  They were allies in the struggle to gain and then secure our independence.  Then they were bitter rivals in an election that makes our current spate of negative campaigns look like sissy slapfight.  Most people don't realize that the election of 1800, our fourth presidential election and the first with two opposing parties, came very close to ending what was still very much an experiment in self-government.  Then in the end they became friends, perhaps even close friends on some levels, proving the truth of the  basis of our government – people can disagree, sometimes bitterly, accuse each other of all kinds of nastiness, yet still retain a level of respect for each person's position.  In fact, in many ways their relationship epitomized America – you can say almost anything you want, you can call someone else almost anything you want, you can think anything you want, you can hate, you can despise, you can want someone dead, but you can't DO anything you want.  Unfortunately that seems to be a lesson that too many on the fringe of both sides of many debates seem to be forgetting.