The Presidents #6: John Quincy Adams

[Ardent15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams

Discuss him and his Presidency.

[Dr Morbius]

1. An amazing American.

I've read a fine biography of this man called John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life by Paul C. Nagel.

A brilliant diplomat by all accounts, he was in my view the greatest Secretary of State this nation has ever had, although a case may be made for Seward. Adams organized the department, set ground rules and guidelines for ambassadors, finally arranged for ambassadors to be compensated at least enough that they didn't have to be independently rich to take the job, and established the first actual budget for the department of state. And then there was that Monroe Doctrine, and how he responded to the crisis created in Florida by that rash Kentuckian, General Jackson.

And after his Presidency, he went into the House of Representatives for 17 years and fought tirelessly against slavery and for the right of citizens - especially women - to petition Congress.

But he was an unsteady President. He didn't much like the job. He only won because the powerful Henry Clay didn't want Andrew Jackson in the Presidency. Adams was a guy who was for internal improvements, better education, and a national observatory among other things, but he was seen as arrogant and few of his initiatives were adopted. He swore his oath of office on a book of laws, not a bible. By the time of his death in 1848, he was known as the "Grand Old Man" of the House.

A very interesting man. By all measures, one of America's greatest liberals.

[Capt. America]

2. He used to swim naked in the Potomac.

[liberalpragmatist]

3. The 19th Century Jimmy Carter

In that he was decent, honest, and brilliant, but unsuccessful in the presidency despite success in every other field.

[Arkana]

5. He was also an elitist snob, cold, arrogant, and aloof, much like his father.

There have never been two men in the history of the office who were so eminently qualified yet wholly inadequate for the job, and the Adamses were them.

[Odin2005]

4. A much better man then Andrew Jackson.

[Arkana]

6. This is true.