John Adams’ 275th birthday will be celebrated on Oct. 30, 2010, Adams having been born on October 30, 1735. But there is no likelihood that there will be great nationwide recognition or celebration of this fact. To his eternal disappointment, Adams’ reputation has never approximated those of the presidents who preceded and followed Adams to the lofty position of President of the United States. It might be John Adams’ 275th birthday celebration but too may people are apt to respond by saying , “Who cares?
The lack of attention directed to John Adams really prompted by two causes. From the writings of modern day historian and Adams aficionado David McCullough, it is possible to put together at least one reason for the absence of the hoopla that one might expect would accompany a presidential 275th birthday. John Adams was not especially well loved even in his own time.
While he was able to gather up the votes necessary to achieve election to the presidency, those votes were clearly more political than personal in nature. Adams it appears was not a man with great personal charm or charisma. We was intelligent, well read, honest, hard working, dedicated and skilled in the law. While these might be the qualities that one would appreciate in a president they were not the qualities that necessarily encouraged long standing, warm personal regard.
More often than not Adams, as portrayed by McCullough, was personally combative, undiplomatic and caught up in dogged considerations about his own inability to engender in his fellow citizens feelings of respect and popularity. Adams often suffered from the fear that he would never be credited for nor remembered for the central part that he played in the American Revolution and the building of our nation. Partly because of his own malingering self doubt Adams proceed to act in ways that turned his fears into self fulfilling prophecy.. The desire for an affection laced, enduring legacy, so often sought even by modern day presidents, was already haunting the second man to serve in that office. Unfortunately for Adams his concerns seldom tempered or warmed his nature but rather seemed to drive him to more acerbic behaviors. Not loved in his own times, Adams was seldom a figure that captured the imagination of later generations. Like a forgotten uncle, Adams’ image faded over time.
But one has to wonder if his image might have shined more brightly had he not been easily outmatched by the glow coming from the national memories of two of the brightest luminaries in our entire history, Washington and Jefferson, one serving directly before the other immediately after the one term presidency of John Adams. Writers over generations have echoed and magnified the public sentiments of respect, admiration, love and near hero worship that surrounds these two larger than life presidents. All you need to do is drive through Washington D. C. and you get the picture. That’s right the nations capital is named for George Washington and the colossal obelisk that dominates the national Mall? That’s right its the Washington monument. Not too far away visitors can also stop to pay homage at the Jefferson Memorial. Yes, you’ll see a magnificent statue of Lincoln in D. C. too but don’t try to find the “Adams Monument”. There isn’t one.
Travel out west and check out Mount Rushmore. Whose face do you clearly not see enshrined there? Right, John Adams.
As a former teacher of American history and a lifelong resident of Massachusetts I have long empathized with the 19th century fears held by John Adams that he would not be remembered in a favorable light in our national history. Scratchy personality not withstanding, Adams played a major role in the American revolution, the formulation of our founding documents and setting the ship of state safely afloat. His work, despite his personality, deserves much more respect, consideration and honor than it currently receives.
Some projects such as David McCullough’s book and the monumental PBS series which relied heavily upon it, have opened the door to a reconsideration of the great accomplishments of the sometimes irritating John Adams. These efforts along with a slow but at least continuous push in Congress may one day see the unveiling of some form of lasting tribute to John Adams in our nation’s capital.
In the meantime, those interested in discovering more about John Adams can read the book, watch the series or visit the park in Massachusetts that marks the birth site of both John and John Quincy Adams. Oh and you might like to celebrate just a little bit on October 30 to honor the 275 anniversary of John Adams of Massachusetts, second president of the United States.
Source:
McCullough, David. John Adams. Simon and Schuster, New York, 2001
