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> being sexually permissive while he served as an ambassador or in other settings

Who cares if he dated around? Seriously, he was a human being. Human beings are, by nature, sexual creatures. Stop treating this like it's some illegal, shameful thing. (note: if he abused women, then that's something entirely different)

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If Benjamin Franklin were unfaithful to his wife (he claimed near the end of his life that he wasn't), it would make him a hypocrite and dishonest.

Sexual promiscuity was a serious thing in the United States until the 1960s. The lack of regard modern society has for being faithful doesn't diminish the importance of Benjamin Franklin being faithful to his wife.

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