Throughout the early portions of the book, Adams’ childhood is seamlessly spliced into the story of his trip to Philadelphia before the birth of the United States. As Adams seemed to realize his importance in the shaping of history, he saved all of his letters and asked those to whom he wrote to save all material they receive from them. By doing this, he allows biographers to look right inside his mind and clearly understand his beliefs and positions on all of the many important issues that surrounded his life. During this meeting in Philadelphia, Adams is perhaps the most ardent supporter of an American Revolution, and found himself in numerous battles with his political opponents.
As the years pass by, Adams travels to Europe and MacCullough really focuses on his loneliness and feelings of solitude. While his son, John Quincy accompanied him overseas, Adams longs for his wife Abigail and many letters pass across the ocean between them. While attempting to garner French support for the Revolution, Adams found his fiery personality clashed with European leaders just as easily as it did with his fellow Americans. The new challenges that he faced, such as learning French, helped him pass the time. Not only did he find himself clashing with French leaders, but he found it impossible to negotiate on behalf of the United States when another American in Paris – Benjamin Franklin – seemed to have no desire to reach any settlement out of fear of angering anyone. Adams was bothered not only by Franklin’s unwillingness to support the American cause, but also by his loose morals and choice of acquaintances.
After Franklin was returned to the United States, and Adams’ wife and daughter were able to join him in Paris, a new time in his life began. Adams was very grateful that Franklin was replaced by Thomas Jefferson, a man who also was also in favor of breaking from England. Their time spent together in Paris helped enhance their friendship to enormous levels as their families became extremely close. In fact, Jefferson was to become probably the second most important person throughout the rest of Adams’ life (as either friend or foe) behind only his wife Abigail.
After time in London attempting unsuccessfully to reconcile disagreements that arose after the Treaty of Paris ended the War for Independence, Adams was finally allowed to return to the United States. The years he spent in Europe really wore on Adams as he felt unappreciated and forgotten by the Americans who could not observe his many but futile attempts to secure loans and negotiate with the European states on behalf of the new country. After his return, he hoped to settle down in Massachusetts away from the political life he had lived for over a decade. Of course, that desire quickly faded as he was elected Vice President in 1788.
He spent eight relatively uneventful years faithfully (and quietly) serving President Washington. Again, he repeatedly professed his desire in letters to settle down and live a modest life, but his fear of the political parties that were quickly forming around him drove him to run for President. His four years as President were tumultuous as he was disliked by both the Federalists headed by Alexander Hamilton and the Democrat-Republicans led by his Vice President Thomas Jefferson. By attempting to follow his heart on the issues, he managed to alienate nearly everyone in both parties. The most pressing issue was French ships pirating American goods at sea. As Adams held firm in his desire to remain neutral, he was accused of being too passive and too aggressive by the leaders of both sides. His idea to send three delegates to negotiate with the French was denounced at the time, but ultimately proved to be successful as a settlement was reached.
Jefferson defeated Adams in 1800 in the first and only Presidential election that featured the incumbent Vice President running against the incumbent President. Adams was reluctant to run again, but felt that he should out of obligation to his supporters. When he lost to Jefferson, he was more than willing to leave Washington and travel back to Massachusetts. There he lived his remaining years conversing with friends such as Philadelphian physician Benjamin Rush and later Thomas Jefferson. He also enjoyed housing his grandchildren and loved taking in visitors (including Ralph Waldo Emerson for one afternoon).
His love of reading and of the classics remained throughout his life as he frequently was reading famous works from the Romans and Greeks. Each of sons studied at Harvard and he placed Charles and John Quincy in the finest schools depending on their location during the time he spent in Europe. That is, whether in London, Amsterdam or Paris, his sons were receiving the finest education that he could fine. The many letters he wrote often cited Cicero or Shakespeare or Thomas Locke or many others as their source.
In fact, MacCullough drew upon so many letters that it seems as if half of the book was written by Adams himself. Rather than interrupting the flow of the book with many letters, MacCullough does an excellent job of inserting exactly what fits and really lets the reader right into Adams strong mind. Whether involving the litany of letters back in forth between he and Abigail, or the letters between himself and his political friends and opponents, John’s passion towards all things – whether gardening, reading, governing, or creating a Constitution for Massachusetts – is expressed in his writing.
Finally, rather than drag on towards the end of John’s life the book actually picks up pace. By this time, the reader already has a grasp of John Adams’ uniqueness and has stubbornness. At this point in his life, the MacCullough finally exposes Adams’ humanity and modesty as he fazed himself out of the American public’s eye. Sadly, he remained that way throughout history as perhaps the most forgotten member of the Revolutionary set of Presidents. Well, maybe sadly is not the right word. Instead, perhaps one should say “Fittingly, he remained that way…” as Adams goal was only to pursue what he felt was right, not to grab attention.