Category Archives: presidents

Something about the US president, current, past or hypothetical.

John Adams

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He was born in 1735; He was just three years younger than George Washington, and served as his vice president for eight years. Easily took the office after Washington stepped-down, but was ousted four years later in the “Revolution of 1800” – a very Bush-Gore moment, and led to the 12th Amendment of the US Constitution.

He returned to Massachusetts to farm after leaving office depressed. Twelve years later he reconciled with his old friend Thomas Jefferson. The y then continued a 14-year, 154 letter correspondence. His son John Quincy Adams was elected sixth president 24 years after John left office. The father died six months after he took office. Dying at 90, he was the longest lived president for 175 years.

Adam_strumbull.jpg

  • Born and raised in Massachusetts of two well heeled families
  • Attended and graduated Harvard College, age 16-20
  • Taught school, age 21-?
  • studied law with prominent lawyer James Putnam of Worchester
  • prominent opponent of the Stamp Act, age 30
  • admitted to the bar, age 32
  • elected to the legislature of Massachusetts, age 35
  • defended British soldiers on murder charges for the Boston Massacre, age 35
  • served on Massachusetts Superior Court
  • served at the Continental Congresses, age 39-40
  • authored Thoughts on Government, age 41
  • head of the Board of War and Ordinance, age 41
  • mostly authored Massachusetts’ Constitution, age 45
  • ambassador to the Netherlands, age 45-49
  • key negotiator of the Treaty of Paris, with Britain, age 48
  • ambassador to Great Britain, age 50-?
  • Vice President: “This is the most unimportant position human ever made.”, age 54-62

Thoughtfulness, deliberation and fairness seem to be his major traits.

George Washington

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Known as the Father of Our Country, I’m sure he would be in the top few presidents most Americans could name. He was eulogized as “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”[1] Born in 1732, he became president in 1789 (age 57). George Washington PortraitHe served for eight years until 1797 (age 65), and began the tradition of a sitting president stepping down after two terms. After his retirement, he built one of the largest distilleries in the states. He died (age 67) two years after his retirement two days after spending several hours in the freezing rain on horseback.

Experience:

  • born and raised in Virginia
  • Land Surveyor, age 16
  • Planter, age 17
  • County Surveyor, Culpepper County VA, age 17
  • District Adjutant (Major Washington), Virginia Colony, trained militia, age 20
  • Became Master Mason in the Freemasons, age 21
  • Delivered warning to French in Ohio country, assesses French strength, age 21
  • Led failed military action in Ohio, age 22
  • Rallied a retreat of a failed British-Colonial action in Ohio, age 23
  • Had a frontier command in the Virginia mountains, age 24-25
  • Married the wealthy widow Martha living at the White House Plantation, age 27
  • Virginia Planter, age 27-41
  • Became more involved in colonial resistance, age 37
  • Led calls for repeals of British laws, age 38-42
  • Commander in Chief, Continental Army, age 43-51
  • Presided over Philadelphia Convention wherein the US Presidency was designed (with him in mind), age 55

Charisma, Modesty, and Leadership seem to be his primary traits.

Future presidents were in Washington’s cabinet: Vice President John Adams (2nd) and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (3rd).

Washington’s Farewell Address, issued as a public letter before he left office, and was very influential on the further cementing of the direction of the government and the office of the president.

What Experience is needed to be the President?

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After listening to many political podcasts on the presidential primaries and caucuses, it led me to wonder what is a good background of experience to be the President of the United States.

So, as a resolution to myself on this January 12 – the earliest post-Iowa Caucus, post-New Hampshire Primary of my life – before election day 2008 I will read up on the background of every man who has been president of the United States, paying particular attention to the background he had before entering office. I’m not going to go out and purchase 42 biographies, I’ll likely use shorted and cheaper sources. I suspect Wikipedia can give me the basics, and that may suffice for most.

I may also read up on those who were not elected but had major candidacies, and may toss in a vice president or two.

So, we’ll see where this search to fill a hole in my knowledge goes. If you are a historian, or a student of history, and have any favorite Federal ancestors you’d like to tip me toward, please send an email or make a comment.