John Adams - His Presidency

[David Octavius]

Since it seems you guys liked the series on HBO, I figured I'll share something that I found interesting during the time of his presidency.

As you know, there was a lot turmoil to which Jefferson and Adams eventually became adversaries. To give you a flavor of the day and the passions that were involved, I want to share a letter from James Madison to Thomas Jefferson. This letter is part of a collection of works of James Madison that I bought a year ago, I cannot find this letter online so I had to type it out, so the least you can do is read it

Background -

It is 1798, Adams has been President barely a year but already already there is infighting and drama, Jefferson has already left the capitol for his home in Monticello. Jefferson may be gone but he uses his influence in an attempt to sway public opinion, so he enlists the help of James Madison - his close friend and leader of the House of Reps - to actively write against the precieved monarchical tendencies of the Presidents in a variety of articles that appear in the National Gazette. In a candid exchange of letters Madison writes to Jefferson on Feb 18th 1798 (below is an excerpt):

"Dear Sir,

Since I recd. yours of Feby. 8 with a continuation of the Gazettes down to that date, with the exception only mentioned already, of the Gazette of Jany 23. I am glad to find the public opinion to be taking the turn you describe on the subject of arming. For the public opinion alone can now save us from the rash measures of our hot-heated executive; it being evident from some late votes of the House of Reps. particularly in the choice of managers for the Impeachment, that a majority there as well in the Senate are ready to go as far as the control of their Constituents will permit.

There never was perhaps a greater contrast between two characters, than between those of the present President & of hi predecessor, altho' it is in the boast and prop of the latter, that he treads in the steps of the former: the one cold considerate and cautious, the other headlong & kindled into flame by every spark that lights on his passions: the one ever scrutinizing into the public opinion, and ready to follow if he could not lead it: the other insulting it by the most adverse sentiments & pursuits: W. a war hero on the field weighing every danger on his cabinet - A. without a single pretension to the character of a soldier, a perfect Quixotte as a Statesmen : the former a Chief Magistrate pursuing peace everywhere with sincerity, tho' mistaking the means: the latter taking as much pains to get into war as the former took to keep out of it....."


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