Posted on 01/21/2006 4:46:08 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
John Adams, the second president of the United States, was brilliant, argumentative, sometimes irascible. Abigail Adams was a savvy observer of the tumultuous political scene, not afraid to speak her mind in an age when women were excluded from politics.
Together they forged one of the greatest partnerships in American history. In the tradition of its award-winning Presidents series, American Experience's John & Abigail Adams chronicles both an inspiring political marriage and the birth of a nation.
"The Adams story provides a strikingly intimate look inside a marriage of true companions," says writer-producer Elizabeth Deane (Reconstruction: The Second Civil War, The Kennedys, Nixon), "for whom life included not just the great events memorialized in textbooks, but also laughter, loneliness, and family tragedy. "
Under the direction of Peter Jones (Bataan Rescue, The Great Transatlantic Cable), two formidable actors -- Simon Russell Beale (John Adams), recipient of the 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Best Actor Award for his performance in "Uncle Vanya," and Linda Emond (Abigail Adams), an accomplished stage actress who previously portrayed Abigail in the Broadway rendition of "1776" -- bring the couple to life.
Historians, including David McCullough, author of the bestselling John Adams and the recent 1776, Joanne Freeman, and Joseph Ellis, provide insight on the couple and their legacy.
To present the Adamses' story in their own words, Deane drew extensively on their revealing, often deeply personal correspondence, borne of their lengthy time apart while Adams served his country at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia and as a diplomat in Europe.
A visionary and gifted political thinker, Adams moved a reluctant colonial Congress to declare independence from England, and single-handedly secured millions of dollars in loans to keep the American army from collapse.
He penned the Massachusetts constitution, which served as the basis for the U.S. Constitution. He was the nation's first ambassador to England, its first vice president, and its second president. Through it all, Abigail remained his most trusted political advisor and confidante.
"She was a better judge of people than he was," says McCullough. "She was a much more insightful politician, if you will. She adored him and he adored her. It's a great love story. And it's all in their letters."
Despite his accomplishments, Adams was racked with self-doubt and convinced that he would be forgotten. "Statues and monuments will never be erected to me," he wrote near the end of his life, "nor flattering orations spoken, to transmit me to posterity in brilliant colors."
"To a great extent, Adams' fears that his contributions would be forgotten were realized," says American Experience executive producer Mark Samels. "This film will play a role in allowing John and Abigail take their place among the other great leaders of our nation."
BTTT
To bad it is the same night and time as 24. Maybe PBS will have a rerun.
The Wall Street Journal gave this a good review yesterday. Bump.
A history ping
Forgot about that!!!
ping
At least with David McCullough involved, Adams won't be described as being gay.
history ping
Let's hope not.
Repeats here (Detroit area) at 2:30am. So I can have the 'puter record both 24 and the American Experience.
Well then, maybe we will be spared MSM's TV critics trying to compare the Clintons to the Adams. I mean, who would buy that?
Thought you might be interested in this ;-)
I am pinging the RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list with a bit of hesitation about a PBS production. And no, not for the obvious reason, but I pinged the list about their 2-part series on the French and Indian War and it was...UNWATCHABLE.
So, in case there are some rabid John and Abigail fans on the list, this one's for you.
Please Freepmail me to get ON or OFF this ping list.
The American Experience often has good episodes. They have had great documentaries about Mark Twain, Nikola Tesla and Farnsworth (the real inventor of T.V.). The Reagan documentary was good. This will probably be good, also.
Next PBS Series - "The Secret Cross Dressing Lives of the Founding Fathers." they wore wigs, ya know.
I don't know much about Adams, but one reason he might have predicted that there would be no monuments to himself was that he was no military man. He always regretted that fact and respected Washington for his abilities. Abigail also was a great supporter of The General.
John Adams is one of my husband's ancestors -- not a direct connection, more like distant cousins, so this is of special interest to us. The McCullough book was terrific. I actually listened to it on tape. Very absorbing.
Please add me to your list. Thank you
That's very interesting. Maybe I'll get the tape for my son-in-law.
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