topic Re: John Adams, The Second President in Community Chat

John Adams, The Second President

Oznell — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 18:46:23 GMT

A few scribbles from my ongoing (and often stuttering and stalling, ha) project of trying to acquaint myself with some of the brilliant and enigmatic Founders of the country.

One thing that's fun to do is look up various quotes made during their lifetimes. John Adams was highly reflective; he was a diarist, and we know from their letters that he had a deep, enviably close relationship with his wife and most valued counselor, Abigail.

Adams was a constitutional lawyer, the descendant of financially modest Puritans, as well as Founding Father. He was the first Vice-President and second President, after Washington. Some of his best quotes are too long and convoluted to reproduce here; some would be considered too "political", some contradictory, but here are a couple of general ones that give a flavor of the man:

"I am a revolutionary, so my son can be a farmer, so his son can be a poet".

"Consenting to slavery is a sacriligious breach of trust, as offensive in the sight of God as it is derogatory from our own honor or interest of happiness."

"Think of your forefathers. Think of your posterity."

"You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket."

It's interesting to find or imagine the context of some of his musings. I must say, I do envy his era in one respect-- that it was quite conceivable that people would care enough about poetry to carry it around with them!

Re: John Adams, The Second President

alicedee — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 18:49:40 GMT

I loved the HBO miniseries on John Adams. It was so well done I bought the dvds....thanks for triggering my memory. I will watch it again this winter.

Re: John Adams, The Second President

gidgetgh — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 19:27:36 GMT

Speaking of John Adams, a little bit of Gidget trivia.

I grew up in Quincy, MA and John Adams, John Quincy Adams and their wives were buried in my church (Unitarian).

Back in the 60’s, there was open access to their crypts. We used to go in the vault and visit the four graves every Sunday before Sunday School. It was really cool. Tons of granite.

From what I understand, it’s more restricted now. You can’t just stroll in and actually touch the tombs now.

Made quite an an impression on me as a young girl.

Re: John Adams, The Second President

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 19:32:07 GMT

"If we mean to have heroes, statesmen, and philosophers, we should have learned women." - Abigail Adams

Re: John Adams, The Second President

NAES1 — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 19:51:48 GMT

@Oznell ~ beautiful day today..just starting to become chilly, then heard snow by this coming week/ Thursday- Friday, et cetra ; (??of any days after that??) but

Remembering WAAAAY back, possibly from early school and books that I have read, I do not know of [all] interesting idiosyncrasies ...but from John Adams' WANTS, or some historically known events, I do.

He could not stand to be cold or have the saturated chilled mist coming from outside INSIDE ( neither would I ).. and as far can remember

........had all fire places, kitchen stoves going throughout the White House..he became cold very easily.

And his wife did the president's

personal laundry herself. There was a room so warn that the clothing dried quickly.

He, when President Adams was supposedly partaking in one of the most evil campaigns while in the White House. Do not know exactly how much variance would be much different. As now?

Adams did not like to be called PRESIDENT, rather chose to be referred* to ``Highness``

**** - - also, he wanted very much to have a bloodline much to the likeness of royal..NESS, so he tried very hard to have one son marry the daughter of ( I believe it was) _____of King George,III's .....to perpetuate a long line of ___________> whatever that meant to him.

Actually pretty darn full of himself or very low on self-esteem<.........ahhhhhh (not surprised)!!!!

Re: John Adams, The Second President

kaydee50 — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 19:54:53 GMT

Abigail and John Adams were remarkable people. Read David McCullough's bio of John Adams. Fascinating! I'm looking forward to visiting Adams' library when I'm in Boston in May.

Re: John Adams, The Second President

RoughDraft — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 21:20:05 GMT

It should be noted that when John Adams took the oath of office as second president of the United States, it was the first time in political history that power between two common citizens was transferred without death or violent overthrow of the person losing power. The Constitution had passed its first critical test. Long live the Constitution!

Edited for redundancy.

Re: John Adams, The Second President

JaneMarple — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 20:49:34 GMT

@RoughDraft wrote:
It should be noted that when John Adams took the oath of office as second president of the United States, it was the first time in political history that power between two common citizens that power was transferred without death or violent overthrow of the person losing power. The Constitution had passed its first critical test. Long live the Constitution!

Re: John Adams, The Second President

Oznell — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 21:14:31 GMT

I enjoy hearing your varied responses to these historical figures. Like all of the Founding Fathers, he sure was complex. Another thing interesting about him is his long relationship with Jefferson, who succeeded him in office, of course. It was quite contentious at times. Such an interesting coincidence that they died on the exact same day...

Re: John Adams, The Second President

Love my grandkids — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 21:33:13 GMT

@kaydee50 I agree! One of the best books I've ever read and I am a voracious reader. Loved all the books I've read about Abigail and John Adams.

Re: John Adams, The Second President

colliemom4 — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 22:00:05 GMT

@alicedee wrote:
I loved the HBO miniseries on John Adams. It was so well done I bought the dvds....thanks for triggering my memory. I will watch it again this winter.

Yes. I highly recommend the HBO miniseries. It's adapted from David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, and chronicles the life of Founding Father John Adams. It's very detailed, allowing you to view him as a "real person" instead of just an important historical figure.

It received widespread critical acclaim and many prestigious awards. The show won four Golden Globes and thirteen Emmy awards, more than any other miniseries in history.

Re: John Adams, The Second President

IMW — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 23:53:09 GMT

Terrific biography of a fascinating man with great integrity.

I believe it was Adams who said the people deserve the government they get and

the best government governs least. (I am paraphrasing)

@castlenv wrote:
Abigail and John Adams were remarkable people. Read David McCullough's bio of John Adams. Fascinating! I'm looking forward to visiting Adams' library when I'm in Boston in May.

Re: John Adams, The Second President

Desert Lily — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 00:59:43 GMT

I remember my child in high school reading John Adams' letters he exchanged with Abigail on voting. John Adams is not my cup of tea.

Re: John Adams, The Second President

VaBelle35 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 01:19:57 GMT

Cokie Roberts wrote 3 great books: Founding Mothers, Ladies of Liberty and Capital Dames.

Great historical reads from the female point of view. These ladies put everything in their diaries and letters to each other and their husbands.

Re: John Adams, The Second President

sassenach1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 03:52:15 GMT

David McCullough’s biography of John Adams was outstanding. What a brilliant, devoted man and I am grateful he was a founding father. I am impressed by him. Abigail Adams was equally brilliant, very vocal for women’s rights. We are so fortunate that we had such strong founders.