Jefferson and Adams were actually trying to live just long enough to die on the 50th anniversary of the creation of their good republic. "Jefferson lives", were actually triumphant words by Adams, because he believed that he had succeeded in actually dying on the hallowed day and Jefferson had not. It was no coincidence that they both died on July 4, 1826. They both surrendered their lives that day because of how much it meant to them.
On any objective view, Adams was a better man. Jefferson, although lauded by most Americans for his ‘sacred parchment’, undermined two Presidents, hypocritically claimed to be disinterested in holding the highest office (when his actions once revealed showed he craved nothing more) and was (hypocritically) a slave owner. Abigail Adams nailed him cold in her letters to him at the time Jefferson’s daughter died.
I mean John Adams was the guy who signed the constitution and then literally less than a decade later passed laws abridging the first amendment, among other things Jefferson was hands down a better president
@@baxterwise2971 Actually, Congress passed the legislation which Adams then signed as Chief Executive. And at a time when there was genuine concern about the activities of the Francophiles - including the undercover activities of the then Vice President. If you want to evaluate the success of Jefferson as a President (and look past the Louisiana Purchase - which he was gifted by a failing Bonaparte) check out his second four-year term. Facts are stubborn things . . .
@@gibbeattie50 I’m not saying TJ was perfect, the embargo act was a huge failure, however the guy did more than the Louisiana purchase, his move to establish a military college only under the condition it was a school of engineering as opposed to combat was a political master stroke reflecting his idealism and pragmatism as one. I’m not saying John Adams is the worst guy either, there’s a lot I respect about him however using your executive office to personally order convictions against people who said “untrue things about him” when you’re also one of the people who signed off on “Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech is pretty damning as far as I’m concerned, and definitely isn’t justified by being scared of French people in my opinion
Hi Baxter. I agree that there was good and bad in both men. My view that TJ was a lesser man is largely founded on his duplicity and his propensity to convince himself, more than others, that he always acted at a higher plane free of ambition and malice. With JA you got what you saw - and he was a man very aware of his own shortcomings, including ambition. In any event, and in every event, they are both great men. Gib
@@gibbeattie50 Yeah I’m with you there Gib, these things aren’t black or white, and I will give you that the guys was a tool. Thanks for the convo very interesting
