John Adams The American Presidents Series: The 2nd President, 1797-1801
John Adams: The American Presidents Series: The 2nd President, 1797-1801 by John P. Diggins, published by Macmillan on June 11, 2003, is a first edition that spans 200 pages. This biography provides an insightful examination of John Adams, who has often been overshadowed by his contemporaries, Washington and Jefferson. The book delves into Adams’s complex personality and his significant role during the formative years of American politics, highlighting his contributions to the establishment of the government and his efforts to maintain neutrality during turbulent times.
Readers will find a detailed exploration of Adams’s presidency, including his establishment of the Department of the Navy and his strategic appointment of John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The narrative also reflects on Adams’s attempts to navigate the emerging political landscape, emphasizing his unique position as a Federalist who sought to transcend party lines. This work not only reassesses Adams’s legacy but also offers a broader understanding of the political dynamics of the Revolutionary Period in the United States.
Official synopsis Publisher
A revealing look at the true beginning of American politics
Until recently rescued by David McCullough, John Adams has always been overshadowed by Washington and Jefferson. Volatile, impulsive, irritable, and self-pitying, Adams seemed temperamentally unsuited for the presidency. Yet in many ways he was the perfect successor to Washington in terms of ability, experience, and popularity.
Possessed of a far-ranging intelligence, Adams took office amid the birth of the government and multiple crises. As well as maintaining neutrality and regaining peace, his administration created the Department of the Navy, put the army on a surer footing, and left a solvent treasury. One of his shrewdest acts was surely the appointment of moderate Federalist John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Though he was a Federalist, Adams sought to work outside the still-forming party system. In the end, this would be his greatest failing and most useful lesson to later leaders.
“Diggins’s slim volume offers a reconsideration of Adams, a thoughtful study of American politics of the period and Adams’s legacy for today. ” – Publishers Weekly
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