No thanks to Kristin Gore's book. I'm currently reading David McCullough's bio of John (and Abigail) Adams. It's striking how his challenges were so similar to the problems we face today: French perfudy, hyper-partisanship, and the appeasement crowd.
As France pounded the drums of war, Adams' opponents shreiked with horror at every proposal to build up a U.S. Navy. "You'll make them mad! You'll start a war!" they would cry. Adams eventually released classified dispatches revealing that French Minister Tallyrand was demanding bribes for himself and no-interest loans to France to "mend the rift caused by the U.S. president's insults to France". That shut up the opposition and caused a swelling of support for Adams. The opponents then changed their tunes and accused Adams of using war to increase his popularity. Sound familiar? James Carville would have fit very well in their circle. (I'm sorry to say it was Thomas Jefferson who filled the Carville role.)
Eventually, of course, France invaded and the U.S. was very well served by having invested in a Navy.
Abigail wrote this to John on March 31, 1776 (original spellings):
I have sometimes been ready to think that the passion for Liberty cannot be Eaquelly Strong in the Breasts of those who have been accustomed to deprive their fellow Creatures of theirs.
Have you read the book on TR? You have the same morons during that time frame, too. You'd think by now we'd have weeded them out of the gene pool. Probably would have too if it weren't for all those hippies in the '60's and '70's procreating while stoned.