John Adams

"He means well for his country, is always an honest man, often a wise one, but sometimes and in some things, absolutely out of his senses."

John Adams, "His Rotundity", as his detractors called him, was our much-maligned second president, but happily McCullough, as always, does much to redeem him. A refreshing facet of this revisiting of Adams, is DMC's exhaustive poring over of Adams' correspondence with his devoted wife Abigail, and this forms the backbone of the biography since they were intimate to the point of confiding to each other everything, including points of governance!
Adams had a singular life: revolutionary, emissary abroad where he bore the brunt of British and French machinations against the early republic, the first vice-president (he learned early on how worthless the office was), second President by a sliver, and aging statesman afterwards.
Aware to a fault of his own faults, he comes across as a welcome politician: honest and forthright, also to a fault. But he was also a guy of deep feelings and passion for his country, in whose interest he justified everything that people shit-talked him for.
Another fascinating undercurrent running throughout was his on-again, off-again friendship with Jefferson and this is given much space, too.
Finally: source of the excellent HBO series starring Paul Giamatti as Adams and Stannis Baratheon as Jefferson!

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“The American Revolution was made by British subjects, individual men and women who, by our modern sense of proportions, were amazingly few in number. The war they fought was the most important in our history, and as too few today seem to understand, it very quickly became a world war. But the revolution began well before the war. As John Adams famously observed. ‘The Revolution was in the hearts and minds of the people.’ And it changed the world.
“There was no American nation, no army at the start, no sweeping popular support for rebellion, nor much promise of success. No rebelling people had ever broken free from the grip of the colonial empire, and those we call patriots were also clearly traitors to the King. And so, we must never forget, when they pledged ‘their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor,’ it was not a manner of speaking.
“We call them the Founding Fathers, in tribute, but tend to see them as distant and a bit unreal, like figures in some costume pageant. Yet very real they were, real as all that stirred their ‘hearts and minds,’ and it has meaning in our time as never before.
“With change accelerating all around, more and more we need understanding and appreciation of those principles upon which the republic was founded. What were those ‘self-evident’ truths that so many risked all for, fought for, suffered and died for? What was the source of their courage? Who were those people? I don’t think we can ever know enough about them.” — DAVID McCULLOUGH

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No introduction could be more powerful than the author’s own words. Reading John Adams by David McCullough over the Fourth of July holiday was an inspirational read. Coincidentally both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died within hours of one another on the Fourth of July in 1826, their day. This epic and extraordinary narrative history was riveting and enthralling in the telling of the life of John Adams. Although John Adams was one of the more conservative Founding Fathers, he attended the First Continental Congress in 1774. John Adams became increasingly committed to the cause of independence over the next two years. He led the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. When the time came to argue for its passage, Adams used his superior debate skills to move it through both houses of Congress. John Adams was appointed to a select committee charged with building an alliance with France during the upcoming war. John Adams served as a diplomat throughout the American Revolutionary War, taking him to Paris, London and Holland, ending with his role in establishing a peace treaty with Great Britain. After the war he was appointed as the first ambassador to Great Britain. Following the presidency of General George Washington for two terms in office, John Adams was elected president in 1797 with Thomas Jefferson serving as Vice-President. His presidency was plagued with controversy although his accomplishments were many going down in history as one of the best presidents. Adams felt that his biggest accomplishment was the appointment of John Marshall as Supreme Court Justice, Thomas Jefferson easily defeated Adams in 1800. The two men became estranged for years until they renewed their friendship later in life, much to the enjoyment of both. Although one was the son of a Massachusetts farmer and the other a Virginia aristocrat and slavemaster, they were both devoted to their country. The life of John Adams was an all encompassing historical arc as he lived longer than any president. We witness events ranging from the Boston Massacre to Philadelphia in 1776 to the Versailles of Louis XVI, from Spain to Amsterdam, to the Court of St. James with King George III, to the half-finished Capital by the Potomac River, where Adams was the first President to occupy the White House. This is history on a grand scale, not to be missed, as this is the story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans ever.

It is April 21, 2016 and I am experiencing this book for the second time. This time I am listening to the Audible format. I have recently listened to Alexander Hamilton and thought John Adams was not treated very well in that book and wondered how you would be treated in a book that was focused on him.

Adam spent about two years in France during the time of the Revolutionary war. He returned to Massachusetts and almost immediately began work on the Massachusetts constitution.

After a brief return to Massachusetts John Adams returns to Europe and eventually is joined by his wife and family. He spends time as a diplomat in Paris along with Franklin and Jefferson. As these books that are appearing to be about one individual there are significant diversions the cover other of their contemporaries. I find those diversions less satisfying since they are generally fairly cursory. In this case a good deal is made of Jefferson.

The meeting between John Adams as the first ambassador to England after the war with the king of England is indeed A historic event that I have never before focused on. I was moved hearing it.

So what does an ambassador to England do in 1784? One of the more interesting activities is negotiating the treaty with the country of Tripoly to protect American shipping from the Barbary pirates.

John Adams felt that he had accomplished very little in the diplomatic arena so as the time of the American constitutional convention came closer he switched gears and began to write about his philosophy of eight federal government and he requested that he be withdrawn from his London ambassadorship and return to the US. That's becomes a whole new era for this man.

On his way home across the ocean to Massachusetts John Adams thought he would just retire to Braintree his long time home. He had traveled 29,000 miles in service to his country. When he got back to Braintree he embarked on a farmers life. But there was talk of him becoming the vice president or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the media. he had decided that he would accept the rule of vice president but nothing less. We all know he got that position.

It took the Senate a month to decide the title for George Washington. John Adams was only supposed to moderate the Senate debate but couldn't keep his mouth shut and contributed much to the extended debate. He wanted His Excellency or His Majesty but fortunately lost. But the suspicions that he was a monarchist at heart grew.h

Jeffersons reason versus Adams passion are subject to a good examination and discussion. This is also in the context of the French Revolution. Adams also opposed the gradual formation of two political parties.

Adams is portrayed as a president who began the Navy and was enthusiastic about it but who also opposed to standing army and dissolved it when it appeared that there would not be a war with France. His efforts to avoid a war with France are emphasized.

The story of his failure to be reelected and the involvement of Alexander Hamilton in that is fascinating. The mudslinging nature of the campaign shows that was a part of politics right from the start.

John and Abigail Adams were the first to live in Washington DC when they moved there from Philadelphia at the end of his term.

The story ends are in great debt to the fact that people including the founding fathers corresponded at great length and left their letters for posterity. The story of John Adams after leaving the presidency is filled by such correspondence including a significant exchange of letters over a number of years between Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

My experience of this book in the Audible for about four years after I first read it as vastly improved my appreciation for the work and I have increased my esteem from three stars to five stars. I am now fully involved in reading biographies of the founding fathers and I am enjoying the experience. One aspect of this particular biography is its focus on the participation of Abigail Adams on the career of her husband.

I highly recommend this biography in the Audible format.

This is such a well written, interesting book. I keep wishing we had a John Adams to vote for this November. The caveat for me is that there is so much content to this book I need to continually take a break and do some light reading between and/or at the same time. Highly recommended for any American history buff.

Magnificent. A tremendous book that more than does justice to one of our noblest founding fathers and greatest of public servants.

Having previously read the George Washington and Alexander Hamilton biographies by Ron Chernow, and the Benjamin Franklin bio by Walter Isaacson, (in which John Adams features many times over) I was eager to learn more about the 2nd President of the United States.
Well, this account of the life of John Adams is with out a doubt, the best biography that I have ever read! As the march of history unfolds through a tremulous 18th century, David McCullough does a masterful job utilizing primary sources to uncover Adams true thoughts, idea's and observations. I especially enjoyed all the correspondence between John and his wife Abigail, and later his eldest son (and pride and joy) John Quincy. The inclusion of so many letters and diary entries really helped me get the measure of the man. What a man he must have been; honest, frugal, a devoted husband, father, friend and patriot. Most of all, John Adams was surely a good man and a role model to future generations.
It will be interesting to see how well this epic biography translated to the small screen in the HBO mini-series John Adams starring Paul Giamatti as the man himself. If it's half as good as the biography, I'm in for a real treat.
5- Stars. Perfect!

אין מספיק מילים לתאר את ההישג הפנומנלי שהשיג דיויד מקלו בביוגרפיה הזו.

ביוגרפיה מרתקת, קולחת ומקיפה של חייו ופועלו של ג'ון אדאמס, הנשיא השני של ארה"ב ומהאבות המייסדים של ארה"ב. אבל לא רק. דיויד מקלו מצליח באופן יוצא מן הכלל לשזור את ההיסטוריה הפוליטית והחברתית ואת האירועים בחייו של אדאמס כך שמתקבלת תמונה פנורמית ועשירה של האיש ופועלו ביחס לתקופה ובתוך המרקם החברתי שבו פעל. הוא מתבסס על מכתבים תקופתיים שכתבו אדמאס, אישתו אביגייל ודמויות שונות שעימן החליף תכתובות כמו תומס ג'פרסון. הוא מתבסס על עיתונות התקופה וכתבים תקופתיים וכל זה מעבר לבבליוגרפיה מפורטת.

מהביוגרפיה עולה תמונה של אדם צנוע, אינטיליגנט, חם ואוהב אדם, מסור למטרה ולמדינתו כמו גם למשפחתו. פוליטיקאי חף מתככנות, שנאמן לדרכו ולאמונותיו אותן הוא פעל לקדם גם במחירים אישיים. נדיר למצוא היום פוליטיקאים מהזן הזה, שכך רואים את טובת המדינה והעם שלהם לפני הכל ומדובר על תקופה שבה הפעילות הציבורית לא היוותה מקור הכנסה משמעותי, כך שמרבית נטל הככנסה הושת על המשפחות ולא על המדינה (ספרו על כך לנציגים הנפלאים שלנו שיושבים בכנסת ובממשלה ולא רק שדואגים להעלות את השכר שלהם באלפי שקלים בכל שנה, אלא גם בוכים ומייללים שהם מסכנים והשכר שלהם לא הולם את המשרה והמעמד שלהם...- אגב לאדאמס לא היה מטוס פרטי, את רוב הוצאותיו הוא כיסה מכיסו וגם כשהגיע לדיוני הקונגרס שיכנו אותו בחדר קטנטן שנותר להשכרה.)

לא אכנס לנבכי הביוגרפיה ואפשר לקרוא על פועלו של ג'ון אדאמס בוויקפדיה ובכלל באינטרנט. אולם, אני מפצירה בכם לקרוא את הביוגרפיה בשל שני ההיבטים המרתקים באמת בביוגרפיה הזו:

הראשון מערכת יחסיו עם אישתו אביגייל, שהיתה ציר מרכזי בחייו והיוותה מקור לאהבתו, געגוגעיו וכמיהתו. למרות שבמשך השנים, היו תקופות ארוכות בהן חיו בנפרד (יש לציין באומללות וגעדועים רבים), בחלק מהתקופות הוא חי באירופה והיא בארה"ב תוך שהיא שומרת על תפעול החווה שבבעלותם ומגדלת את הילדים, לאורך כל חייו וחייה, נהגו בני הזוג להתכתב ולהסתמך אחד על השני לתמיכה נפשית ומוסרית. קטעי המכתבים מציירים סיפור אהבה גדול מהחיים.

היא היתה המשען שלו, אשת אמונו, התומכת הנלהבת ביותר שלו גם בשעותיו הקשות. היא היתה היועצת שלו ומי שוויתרה עבורו על חיי משפחה מסורתיים.

היא זכתה להערכה מהקולגות הפוליטיות שלו וחלקם אף ניהלו תכתובות איתה, ללא קשר למערכות היחסים שלהם עם אדאמס.

הוא ראה בה נפש תאומה, מקור לגאווה ולאהבה. ולמרות המחוייבויות הפוליטיות והחברתיות שלו תמיד קדמו למשפחתו ולה, מהמכתבים ניכר עד כמה תמיד היתה בליבו, בנפשו ובמחשבתו. לשניהם היתה תפיסה כל כך עמוקה של מחוייבות ציבורית שלהם, כך גם כאשר הדבר פגע בהם כלכלית, הם שניהם היו שותפים ברמה האישית לדרך הציבורית.

ההיבט השני המרתק בביוגרפיה הזו הוא מערכת יחסיו עם ג'פרסון כפי שהיא נפרסת לאורך השנים הרבות. מערכת יחסים טעונה של אהבה שינאה ואהבה. שלוותה בנתק ארוך של שנים וחזרה לקשרים רק בשלהי חייהם, כאשר על מיטת מותו הוא סבר שחברו שרד כשלמעשה שניהם נפטרו באותו היום, 4 ליולי.

בכלל הביוגרפיה הזו לא חוסכת בפרטים על חייו של ג'פרסון ואפשר לחשוב שלסופר לא נותרה עבודה רבה להשלמת ביוגרפיה על חייו של ג'פרסון. דמותו של תומס ג'פרסון היתה כל כך שונה באופן קיצוני מזו של אדאמס, שהסופר משתמש בדמותו של ג'פרסון כדי להנגיד בינהם ולהאיר את הצדדים החיוביים באישיותו של אדאמס. ולא רק לגבי פערים אישיותיים בהתנהלות של כל אחת מהדמויות אלא הוא מקדיש גם ניתוח עומק לפערים פוליטיים שהתגבשו לאחר החתימה על מגילת העצמאות. אדאמס הלעומתי שתמיד הלך אחר צו מצפונו ואמונתו.

מעבר להבדל הבולט בינהם שאדאמס היה עיקבי בדעותיו, והצהיר ופעל באופן כן וישר מול עמיתיו ויריביו הפוליטיים למול ג'פרסון שפעל בדרכים עקלקלות, לא ישרות, מאחורי הגב ובאופן שלעיתים סתר את עצמו, היו עוד מספר הבדלים באורח החיים שלהם:

הבדל משמעותי בין שניהם היה אורח החיים הצנוע של אדאמס, שלקראת סוף חייו גם לא הותיר חובות לילדיו לעומת אורח חיים ראוותני ובזבזני של ג'פרסון, שבמקום מסויים בביוגרפיה הזו נכתב עליו שחזר מלונדון עם היקף מטען שלא נראה כמותו מעולם עד אז.

ג'פרסון גם השקיע באחוזתו מונטצ'ילו בה בילה שנים ארוכות בעיצוב והרחבה, עד כדי כך שבסוף חייו נערכה מגבית לכיסוי חובותיו.

הבדל משמעותי אחר היה ביחס לעבדים. אדאמס סירב להחזיק עבדים, בזמן שג'פרסון לא רק החזיק בעבדים אלא במקום מסויים בספר נטען כי היתה לו מערכת יחסים עם אחת השפחות שילדה לו מספר ילדים.

למרות אורכו, מדובר באמת באחד המסמכים ההיסטוריים המרתקים שיצא לי לקרוא. בכל עמוד רואים את אהבתו של הכותב לנושא הביוגרפיה ולתקופה עליה הוא כותב. אני שמחה שהשקעתי בספר את הזמן, הוא יותר מראוי לקריאה.

This was a workmanlike biography, which I devoured very quickly but also found to be fairly prosaic. There is a lot of "then this happened, then this happened". I think what got sort of lost with this approach was a truly clear sense of how Adams fit into the historical and political moment - for example, what the Continental Congress was or did remains murky, and McCullough seems to devote very few pages to Adams's candidacy in 1796 - all of a sudden he is the frontrunning candidate. Hundreds of pages instead are given to Adams largely inconsequential sojourns in Europe. All in all good, but didn't feel as analytically precise as it could have been.