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John Adams Finally Gets The Attention He Merits!

Controversial but Excellent President, Superb Statesman, Philosopher, American Hero, and Cousin to Samuel Adams Brewer/Patriot!

Long overlooked and ignored John Adams of Massachusetts will finally get the press he merits when Paul Giamatti plays the great man in an upcoming HBO Special- John Adams.

Giamatti, recently from the Pinot Noir orchards of Napa and the bizarre worlds of M. Night Shyamalan, is a great choice to play the much maligned Adams. While the musical “1776” with William Daniels (later Dr. Craig in St. Elsewhere) was a huge and well-deserved hit and included a loving and (likely highly accurate) portrayal of Adams - for the most part in American history studies he has been widely ignored falling victim in the public mind to the obsessive ignorant love of the populist, slave holder, gourmand and wine connoisseur Thomas Jefferson of Monticello.

It should be remembered that Jefferson embraced the French Revolution while Adams despised it, rightly prophesying its eventual malignant corruption into mass murder and finally Napoleonic aggressive war across Europe. Jefferson thought so quaintly, “the tree of liberty must eventually be watered with the blood of patriots” or some such nonsense to justify the beheadings, ultra-violence and regicide of the Revolution in late 18th century Paris. Adams knew better.

If only it weren’t for the bad choice of the Alien and Sedition Acts John Adams would be recognized for the great hero and leader that he was - after all, Reagan had his October Surprise and Iran/Contra Scandal, Adams had his Alien and Sedition Acts. Reagan’s legacy and reputation was quickly rehabilitated since his death (and during his retirement years, too) now it’s John Adams’ turn.

Perhaps the finest Adams biography of recent memory and perhaps the authoritative treatment by far is John Adams by the renowned biographer and historian David McCullough. John Adams (2002) is superbly written, a treat. It’s time to meet John Adams and appreciate him once more. Without John Adams there would be no United States of America.

John Adams by David McCullough.
Reviewed by Daniel Mallock, BookFolk

What a fantastic way to learn about John Adams! What a great way to be introduced to excellent biography writing. One of the best ways to learn history is to read biographies of the great players of their times. John Adams was one of the key leaders of the American Revolution, a great diplomat, philosopher, and a great reader. So much like Benjamin Franklin yet so far apart in character and manners.

McCullough is a brilliant and exciting writer. Adams seems to come alive in this book and when Adams inevitably dies at the conclusion - it is a very sad thing!

Adams is a hero of the Republic. A forgotten, unfairly maligned and ignored American hero. Once in conflict with the populist Jefferson, then a friend to him again in later years they would die within hours of each other on July 4, 1826. Adams is undeservedly overlooked by many students of American History. Adams would say on his death bed, his last words, “Jefferson still lives”. But the third President had actually died several hours earlier. The irony is striking.

Adams the republican vs Jefferson the populist was at one time illustrative of the great debate in American history which still continues today. Adams saw the horror of the French Revolution for what it was and predicted that it would end in depravity and violence and likely cause a savage reaction which would bring about the end of the French Republic itself. He was right, Bonaparte quickly followed the French Revolution and war across Europe was the result. Jefferson on the other hand embraced the French Revolution as an expression of the people’s desire for liberty. How wrong he was!

Adams was a brilliant Statesman, and student of history. A wonderful family man and superb husband Adams’ correspondence with his wife Abigail is a classic of American literature.

McCullough does so well what so many biographers do so poorly and that is he captures the times of the subject and places his subject in his rightful context. He brought me back to the grounds of “Peacefield” (having visited that mansion many times) through his beautiful evocations of it as it hosted great people and great events, Washington and Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, then later Henry Adams and Charles Francis Adams of the next generation of that great American family.

History is best studied by understanding how historical figures lived and understood their own lives and times. Hind sight is an overrated tool in historiography.

Bringing the past to life in writing is a special gift and McCullough has it. Enjoy his talents and get to know the foundations of the American nation a story not fully known by so many.

Adams’ story deserves to be told. What a brilliant man, and McCullough does him superb justice in this highly readable and entertaining biography.

So much can be said here about Adams, but it’s not necessary as McCullough has written the definitive John Adams biography and says it better than I. Get to know John Adams through this superb book, you’ll be glad that you did.