John Adams

The second President, but far from second-rate!  He was an influential figure in law, government, international diplomacy, and the founding of big ol' America itself.  Prepare to read all about him!

Early in life, John Adams was a lawyer, but not the bad kind.  He did not chase ambulances.  He DID represent the British soldiers that perpetrated the Boston Massacre of 1770.  He did so because he felt it was the right thing to do.  No kickbacks.  Well, he probably picked up some British slang and learned some cool drinking games, but those don't count as kickbacks.  He was an honest man.  Not as honest as Lincoln, but nobody is.

Adams served as Vice President under George Washington.  They made quite the odd couple, Adams being a fussbudget lawyer and Washington being a dramatic war general.  They were not friends.  The President and Vice President used to not be "buddies" like they are today.  The LOSER of the election was made Vice President.  In the case of the first election, that loser was John Adams.  He was pretty bitter about it.  You would be too, being cemented forever in history as #2.  They could have added extra sting by putting his picture on the TWO-dollar bill, but didn't.

Eventually he got his turn to be President.  Washington had enough and decided to retire.  Before taking office, Adams had for years lobbied to have the President's official title and job description expanded.  His ideas included "His Majesty the President" and "His High Mightiness, the President of the United States and Protector of Their Liberties."  So you can tell he was really looking forward to it.

a main thing he did was sign the Alien and Sedition Acts.  There was a lot of paranoia at the time in regards to French and other immigrants, so John Adams decided to take ACTION.  However, since America has always been all about freedom, this did not go over well, and French-Americans enjoy a prominent presence in our restaurants to this day.  ("BAM!")  No action was taken against outer space type aliens under the Adams administration because nobody knew about those yet.
  
John Adams had ADVENTURES.  Congress twice dispatched him to Europe by boat ("Enjoy your trip, your majesty!') through winter storms and lightning.  He survived the voyage unharmed both times, but others did not.  He was pursued by enemy ships, and there was at least one battle with cannons and everything.  Finally, though, he made it.  French was the international language of diplomacy at the time.  John Adams did not speak it.  Oops.

He served only one term as President, and then was ousted by his own Vice President, Thomas Jefferson.  (Again, nobody got along with the Vice President back then.)  They reconciled later in life, became pen pals, and then died on the same day, which was also the 4th of July.  (I am NOT making this UP.)  The 4th of July did not become a holiday because of that, it already was one.

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