Take it to the bridge!

Yesterday I finished up watching the HBO mini-series John Adams. It took me a while to get through all seven, 90 minute episodes, but it was well worth it. I learned an incredible amount about American history, political science, and just more about the great revolutionaries who helped form this great country. John Adams is a man that we all can look up to and might be the most underrated president of all time. (I could argue Truman but that’s for another time.) Adams grew up with a very modest upbringing, the son of a farmer. Despite these poor upbringing, in a time when family heritage, and class warfare meant everything, Adams relied on his own hardwork and natural intelligence to succeed. He enrolled at Harvard at age 16, and after graduation quickly became an attorney known for his fairness, intelligence, and sharp mind. This mini-series is based on David McCullough’s biography on Adams and is known to be historically accurate. Adams rose to fame quickly after the famous 1770 Boston Massacre in which British soldiers opened fire on a mob of Bostonians, killing many. Adams represented the side of the British soldiers and won, despite immense political pressure from prominent Bostonians who wanted the soldiers hung. His most ardent critic might have been his friend, and cousin, Samuel Adams. Overtime, John Adams became more and more frustrated with the British King George, and he joined the first continental congress. The movie goes into great lengths to describe his friendship and working relationship with Ben Franklin, Aaron Burr, Thomas Pinkley, and of course his best friend, Thomas Jefferson. As war approaches, we learn how John Adams was instrumental in securing monetary and military relationships with Holland and France which of course helped America win its independence. One thing I liked about the series a lot was explaining about the man, not just the politician, John Adams. It went into detail about his close relationship with his wife Abigail, his children, including a son who died of alcohol poisoning and a daughter who died of breast cancer. I marvel at the advancements of medicine when the movie showed his daughter getting a mastectomy. Unlike today with the help of anesthesiology, and other pain killers, in the movie, Adams’ daughter is first instructed to basically get drunk. Next she is tied down and given a mouth guard of sorts to bite. The surgeon then takes an extremely sharp knife and slices the cancerous breast off. Again, the only pain killer she is given is alcohol. This practice, although barbaric, was simply the only way available. After the war, John Adams becomes the nation’s first Vice President to General Washington. Despite being respected, but not liked, he was elected to be the nation’s second president. We learn a lot about the souring relationship between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Jefferson was viewed basically as an anarchist and would be regarded as a libertarian. He basically wanted no government whatsoever. In addition, Jefferson was sympathetic to the French Revolution and wanted America to declare war with France against Britain. Adams said the country was too fragile after their own revolution and Adams demanded peace. Despite being John Adams’ Vice President, their relationship got so bad that Jefferson actually formed the first party, the Democratic Republicans, and called Adams a Federalist. The Federalists were modern day Democrats. Jefferson and Adams relationship got so bad that they basically became bitter enemies until the very end of their lives – in particular after both Adams and Jefferson had lost their wives. Both Adams and Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years to the date of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson wrote the Declaration but it was edited by Adams and Ben Franklin. All in all, I thought that the HBO mini-series did an excellent job portraying John Adams. It did not shy away from his faults. He had a temper; he was stubborn, and often egotistical. But it also showed how helped lead America during the Revolution and without his work convincing France and Holland to help us out during the war, we might all still be British subjects. I cannot put Adams in my top five presidents of all times though for two distinct reasons. 1, although absolutely opposed to slavery (Adams on principle never owned slaves), for political reasons, he was afraid to bring up the subject. 2, after America’s independence, and during the French-British war, Adams signed the Alien and Sedition Acts. This basically stopped the 1st amendment. Please go rent this when you have some time.

1. Did anybody watch Saturday Night Live this past weekend. The Beyonce/Justin Timberlake skit called “single ladies” might be the best skit that Saturday Night Live has ever done.

2. How was everybody’s weekend? Mine was eventful. Friday and Saturday night consisted of going to gopher basketball games. I mentioned I have season tickets so if you’re interested in college basketball, give me a call. Besides that, it was good to get out and play a little basketball with Mike, and enjoy a quiet, serene weekend before a very busy work week.

3. Currently listening to the band, Stellastar*. Song: My Coco. Album: Stellastar*.