Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Day 2: President John Adams

John Adams has the distinction of being the first person to serve as both Vice President and President of America.  During his eight years as President Washington’s VP, he felt frustrated, underused, and underappreciated, often sharing with his wife how insignificant a role he had in America’s infancy.  He considered himself to be both a philosopher as well as a politician and often times struggled to distinguish the two.

President Adams was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard.  Upon graduating, he started practicing law and eventually turned to politics.   As a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, he was heavily invested in the American independence movement. Prior to becoming Vice President, he was an American diplomat who traveled extensively as evidenced by his positions in France and England.   His diplomatic overseas posts would serve him well as President, as this experience enabled him to strategically avert war with the French. 

During his four years as President, tensions were high between the French and the Americans as both countries were involved in naval positioning and various hostilities throughout the seas.   His leadership averted American involvement in a war and ended with a peace mission being sent to France.  Although war was avoided, various segments of America’s politicians were upset with Adam. This uproar at home partially contributed to Adams being a one term President.

Adams was the first President to reside in the White House, having moved to the home one year prior to vacating the office of President.   When construction of the White House was complete, President Adams shared a prayer with his wife, which remains entrenched in the White House for all visitors to see.  The prayer simply states, “I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it.  May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”

President Adams and his wife, Abigail had five children in ten years.  After his Presidency ended, he returned home to Massachusetts where he spent the next twenty five years of his life, up until his death on July 4, 1826.  Ironically, one of his biggest adversaries, Thomas Jefferson, who became America’s 3rd President and won an electoral that made Adams a one term President, passed away the same day.

The final eight years of life were very difficult on him emotionally, as his wife preceded him in death in 1818.  Their marriage was one based on romance, love, friendship, and involved years of communicating via letters due to President Adams travels as a diplomat.  Unlike his wife, President Adams lived long enough to see his son become America’s 6th President.

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