I write a lot about Abigail Adams. I am, and always have
been, enamored with her life and the time period in which she lived. She was an
extraordinary woman who raised a family often without John as he was serving
his country. Money did not flow in. In those days politics had nothing to do
with money or salary, it was all about the love of country…the new country. When
John Adams, a portly man with a degree in law, began to court Abigail and then
propose marriage, most folks (including her own family) thought she was
marrying beneath her stature. He was a fledgling lawyer with his office in the
front of his house in Braintree, as was often the case. Abigail saw something in
John, and she, with advice from her good friend Mercy Warren, kept the home
fires burning so John could take care of the country.
John Adams was away many years of their marriage, and it was
while he was away at the First Continental Congress in 1776 that he met Thomas
Jefferson. They instantly became good friends. They had so much in common,
besides the powdered wigs! They both loved books and reading, of course. They
both studied law, and they both deeply loved this new country, the United
States of America, even though they had different viewpoints.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson helped write the Declaration
of Independence. Jefferson was the primary writer which was written between
June 11 and June 28, 1776. It was written in Philadelphia on Market Street. It
was written by five men who became known as “Committee of Five.” Fifty-six
delegates signed it and it was ratified on July 4, 1776. That date lives on in all of our lives!
Eventually George Washington became the first president of
the United States with Adams as the Vice President. Everyone, in the colonies,
wanted Washington to run for a second term, but he decided it was time to
retire. John Adams, a loyal Federalist, ran against Thomas Jefferson, a
Democratic-Republican. Adams won the election by three electoral votes. I find
it interesting (and really wish we still did this) that Jefferson became the
Vice President under Adams since he received the second amount of votes. How
smart they were to put the most intelligent men in charge of a brand-new
country.
They differed in their opinions, however. Adams believed in
a strong national government; whereas Jefferson felt more power should be given
over to the states. Amazingly enough, these two men worked side by side in
order to benefit the newly formed United States. There was no time for
bickering or for ego building. Our founding fathers did not do that. Their only
concern was that of the country.
Adams and Jefferson ran against each other for the third presidency,
but this time it was Jefferson who gained control as the President. Aaron Burr
also ran tying Jefferson with 73 electoral votes. In the end, Jefferson took
the Presidency and Burr the Vice Presidency. (Of course, we all know the
Burr-Hamilton story, but that will wait for another column!) Following
Jefferson’s win as President, he and Adams had a falling out which lasted for
ten years until they both retired. Abigail went home to Braintree to set up
John’s library after his loss. Eventually Jefferson went home to Monticello.
When I think about these two men, I have such deep pride. I
can’t imagine sitting in a room in Philadelphia complete with powdered wig, layers
of clothing and the heat of a Philadelphia summer to write our Declaration of Independence.
Benjamin Franklin, another signer, often wrote about the heat! Our founding
fathers asked for nothing except a new government. We owe them such a debt this
week.
Following their retirement, the two men wrote letters which
are housed in the Smithsonian and some in Braintree. Both men became ill in the
summer of 1826, but did not know that about each other. One of the most
interesting facts of our country’s history is that both men died on July 4th,
1826 on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. Adams last words were, “Thomas
Jeffereson survives.” Jefferson died a few hours later.
The celebration this year is so much more than fireworks or swimming
in the lake. (Although lucky you!) No, it is about men and women who gave and
sacrificed for us. Let us always remember.
Happy Fourth of July to all of you.
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