Comparing W. with Q. - Should we look to Quincy Adams for precedent?

[Kadie]

Comparing W. with Q.

Should we look to Quincy Adams for precedent?

By Garry South -- Special To The Bee
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, October 3, 2004

In the current campaign, much has been made of some eerie comparisons between George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States, and his (partly) eponymous offspring, George W. Bush, the 43rd.

Each launched a war against Iraq and each considers himself liberator of a Middle Eastern domain - Kuwait and Iraq, respectively. One made Dick Cheney secretary of defense, the other vice president.

And both found themselves stuck in a re-election campaign with a sputtering economy technically out of recession but still in the dumps in the eyes of many anxious voters. Will Bush fils also meet the same fate as Bush pére?

In assessing Bush the Younger's predicament, I wonder whether the press and pundits might not be noodling over the wrong precedent. Maybe we ought to be looking not at Bush I but at Adams II - as in John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, and the only other "P.K." (president's kid) ever to follow his father into the White House.


more...
http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/10949090p-11866351c.html

[DavidDvorkin]

1. The obvious comparison, but not a valid one

John Quincy Adams became president after a questionable outcome in the Electoral College somewhat similar to the one we saw in 2000. His legitimacy as president was questioned at the time.

However, he was very qualified to be president, having served as Secretary of State, which in those days was considered the stepping stone to the White House, and having displayed genuine competence in dealing with other governments. He had paid his dues.

[Retrograde]

2. JQA also had extensive foreign experience

before becoming president: spent several years growing up in Europe, educated in Holland, minister to the Netherlands, Portugal, Prussia, Russia, England...not to mention time in the Senate before becoming Sec of State. His post-president career wasn't too shabby, either.

Looking back on the first 6 presidents: how come we can't get people of this caliber today????