John Adams by Paul Raymond Audibert, Paris.

Additional information on Audibert pending.

Second President of the United States (1797-1801) Born Braintree, Mass., October 19, 1735; died July 4, 1826. The following is excerpted from the coverleaf of the engraving:

He had a great mind; quick, comprehensive, analytical, not easily satisfied save with ultimate causes; tenacious of its treasures, his memory did not fail him until he became old. With the exception of Franklin, I think of no American who was his intellectual superior.***His understanding was simple. Although constitutionally averse to regular sermons and long-continued attention, he gathered easily what lay before him, and fittingly reproduced it when occasion required.***But he lacked method in his intellectual processes; he had not that genius which is its own method, nor yet the sober systematic habit of work, which at last proves so sure. He did things "helter-skelter." In his adminstration as President there was no rule for anything. He had a fair imagination, above the average of the educated man of that time, but not equal to his understanding. Besides, he had small opportunity for cultivating it in early life, or of developing it in later. Yet he was rather fond of poety, had an ear for music, and was charmed with the painting and sculpture and the grand architecture which so astonish the American in Europe. He had a great reason, although its culture was defective and his method capricious and uncertain.***He was often profound in his remarks, and I think no American politician has ever uttered more profound truths than fell from the mind of John Adams.*** Thus constituted, he was an originator, but not a great one. He was often in advance of his time, especially in planning his scheme for universal religious toleration, and his scheme for the government of the industrial States. He ran before the foremost of his time in seeing the necessity for a navy and for a military academy.***

As an organizer he had to deal with political ideas, and construct them into a constitution, but he had only the smallest talent for organizing men. He could plan a government with great skill, but he was never a practical politician who understands the art of organizing men about his ideas to defend his measures, and to make his thought their thing. Hence the failure of his life.

John Adams had great moral virtures and great vices. Able-bodied, compact and vigorous though not always healthy, he had physical courage--a great and rare virtue in scholarly men.***He inherited what is called "spunk" and we all know he transmitted it.*** He was a conscientious man, and sought the counsel of "that still small voice" which declares the law of the universe--the eternal law--to whoever listens. He could not understand that a king's command could rule the conscience of a subject. He was an intese patriot, and never hesitated to sacrifice his own dearest wishes and fondest hopes for his country's good.***After just deductions are made for his conduct, it must be confessed that no man had so deep, so high an influence in the great work of founding the best institutions in America. And the judgment of posterity will be--a brave man, deep-thoughted, conscientious, patriotic, and possessed of an integrity which never shook but stood as firm as the granite of the Quincy Hills"---THEODORE PARKER (1810-1860). Effective copyright, ©Mickey Cox 2002. All Rights Reserved.