Today in Supreme Court History: October 30, 1735

10/30/1735: President John Adams's birthday.

President John Adams

Comments

[Steven S. Epstein]

Portraits of Liberty: The Colossus of Independence: John Adams (with C. Bradley Thompson) 36 minutes
https://play.acast.com/s/portraits-of-liberty/the-colossus-of-independence-john-adams-with-c-bradley-thomp

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

I mainly remember Adams as that towering figure of justice, independence, and liberty, who turned into a despot with the Alien and Sedition Acts and jailed journalists who had the gall to insult him.

The takeaway lesson is that politics corrupts.

I'm willing to cut George Washington some slack, since he didn't really want to be President, and voluntarily retired rather than die in office. By the same token, I will eternally despise FDR for breaking that tradition for his own personal glory, and despise him even more for running for a 4th term when he knew he was deathly ill. Again, the lesson is that politics corrupts.

[Michael D]

I can list a good deal more reasons to despise FDR.

Your description of Adams hits the proverbial nail.

But I can safely add that I think the office itself presents a danger to liberty as it is one step away from dictatorship. The final straw will be if the electoral college is eliminated. I think that spells the beginning of an all powerful presidency and the eclipse of Congress, as is seen in nearly every single presidential system around the world.

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

There are a zillion more important reasons to despise FDR. But that's the one that especially relates to Adams and illustrates the attraction and corruption of power.

[Alpheus W Drinkwater]

Adams did sign the Alien and Sedition acts, but they were written and passed by the High Federalists in Congress. Adams and Jefferson had a very interesting discussion about these acts in their later correspondence.

[Dan Schiavetta]

It was still unclear under what circumstances a President should exercise a veto. The Alien & Sedition Acts passed by huge majorities in Congress (a veto-proof margin in one of the houses).

[Dan Schiavetta]

He and his son were the only anti slavery Presidents before the Civil War. Both lasted only one term and were largely ineffective on domestic issues.

[Alpheus W Drinkwater]

John Quincy Adams was completely stonewalled by the Jackson supporters, who felt that Adams' election was illegitimate and stolen from Jackson. Sound familiar? Of course the biggest difference is that Jackson's supporters were probably right.

[Michael D]

If anyone has not had the opportunity, I recommend reading the David McCullough biography “John Adams”.

[Dan Schiavetta]

Also the mini series it gave birth to, starring Paul Giamatti.

[Sarcastr0]

I just couldn't get into that one. Not sure why. Maybe Giamatti, whose always rubbed be a bit wrong. Maybe Adams, who has always been kind the turd in the Founders' punchbowl, albeit one of the most principled turds you ever will see.

[Dan Schiavetta]

Giammati either grunted under his breath, or yelled.

The actors portraying Franklin, Washington and Jefferson were very good. Also Laura Linney as Abigail.

[Queen Amalthea]

I dunno, Adams gets dumped on a lot. I get it, the Sedition Acts stunk. But compared to ordering child slaves whipped more for not making nails faster?

[Sarcastr0]

It's not his political actions, but his interactions with his fellow Founders. He was unbending about everything to the point of alienating everybody.

And his letters about the scandalous clothing women in New York wore are just priggish to the extreme.

Minor, but ...

[Gandydancer]

But compared to ordering child slaves whipped more for not making nails faster?

There is no record of Jefferson ordering child slaves whipped more for not making nails faster, any more than there is good reason to think he impregnated Sally Hemmings.

[bernard11]

I second this recommendation.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Several noteworthy cases were argued at the Supreme Court on October 30. (Tennessee v. Garner; Trammel v. United States; Adair v. United States.) How did the research assistants miss them, settling for former Pres. Adams as a birthday boy?

[Gandydancer]

Feel free to tell us what Blackman used for this date last year, since you've been busy researching the topic. No YouTube video is required, asshole.

[Queen Amalthea]

TN v. Garner is a very interesting case, one of the best examples of 'living constitutionalism' imho.

[Gandydancer]

If the 5th Circ case mentioned recently here where the cop shot, through the driver-side window, someone driving away from an inebriated crash into a pole, and was granted immunity, goes unreversed, then TN v Garner is dead.