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Adams deserves obscurity
Denver Post ^ | 19 mar 08 | Ed Quillen

Posted on 03/19/2008 6:01:31 AM PDT by rellimpank

Thanks to the marketing power of HBO, John Adams is no longer the forgotten American revolutionary — at least for a week.

Adams feared his role would be neglected. Thomas Jefferson got all the credit for writing the Declaration of Independence, even though Adams was on that committee and had suggested that Jefferson draft it, since he was a better writer and a Virginian. (Adams wanted some geographic diversity to bind the southern colonies with New England in a common cause.)

For the same geopolitical reason, Adams proposed that George Washington of Virginia command the Continental Army. Adams also worked with Benjamin Franklin, the best-known American of the day. Little wonder that Adams predicted that future histories of the Revolution would recount that "Dr. Franklin's electrical rod smote the earth and out sprung General Washington. That Franklin electrified him with his rod and thence forward these two conducted all the policy, negotiation, legislation, and war."

Over the years, John Adams was also upstaged by his wife, Abigail. On March 31, 1776, as the Continental Congress discussed independence, she wrote to him that "in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. . . . We are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation."

(Excerpt) Read more at denverpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: benjaminfranklin; ezrastiles; hbo; johnadams; presidents; thomasjefferson; yale; yaleuniversity
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To: rellimpank


So far, HBO and Tom Hanks have done an excellent job bringing these great historic characters to life. Most will never read the book this mini-series is based on or remember the short generalized version in their high school textbooks. These were great men who risked all they had to bring Independence and Freedom to a young America.
21 posted on 03/19/2008 6:40:39 AM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life)
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To: Hoodlum91
Having grown up in Mass. and living for a while in Weymouth and Quincy (the Adams’ hometowns), I find it a little funny that he’s considered “obscure”.

Heh...probably similar to my growing up in Virginia experience. When I took American History in college and we focused on Massachusetts, my first thought was "why are we talking about these guys?"

22 posted on 03/19/2008 6:41:18 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (When life gives you lemons...don't forget the vodka...)
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To: GOP_Proud
I’ve been impressed with David Morse’s Washington.

He growed up good after St. Elsewhere, didn't he?

23 posted on 03/19/2008 6:41:51 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (When life gives you lemons...don't forget the vodka...)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
True enough.

Actually, not true at all.

The Sedition Act did not criminalize criticism of the Federal government.

What it did was effectively criminalize libel against the Federal government - as if the Federal government was a individual who could be injured by libelous publications.

It wasn't a good law and Jefferson was right in allowing it to expire - but don't let's pretend that it was something different than it was.

24 posted on 03/19/2008 6:43:47 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: rellimpank
Adams has received all the credit he deserved, a smart man with poor social skills who was ill-equipped to be president.

If anyone of the founders is OVERRATED it is that Proto-Limo Liberal Jacobin symphathizer Jefferson. Cheering on European radicalism from his huge plantation. The fact that he died nearly bankrupt (from excessive traveling and wine collecting, among other things) really provides insight into the temperment/fiscal responsability of TJ.

Hamilton, Washington, and Madison are my faves. The only good thing the AntiFederalists gave us was the Bill of Rights.

25 posted on 03/19/2008 6:47:48 AM PDT by Clemenza (I Live in New Jersey for the Same Reason People Slow Down to Look at Car Crashes)
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To: aft_lizard

The actual physical draft of the Declaration with Franklin’s edits, the exact ones in the film, exists today.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/images/draft1.jpg


26 posted on 03/19/2008 6:48:47 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: Pharmboy

I’m sure your expertise is called for here.


27 posted on 03/19/2008 6:48:58 AM PDT by AmericaUnite
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To: aft_lizard
The only problem I have is when Ben Franklin was reviewing the draft of the declaration with Adams and Jefferson and he about a line in it being too pulpity or preachy as if to insinuate faith has no part in the declaration of independence.

Yes, that rang false.

28 posted on 03/19/2008 6:52:09 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: babble-on

But was it changed based on it being too religious?


29 posted on 03/19/2008 6:52:35 AM PDT by aft_lizard (born conservative...I chose to be a republican)
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To: wideawake; All
The Sedition Act of 1798

Sedition Act of 1798 – A Brief History of Arrests, Indictments, Mistreatment & Abuse

30 posted on 03/19/2008 6:52:40 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("We must not forget that there is a war on and our troops are in the thick of it!"--Duncan Hunter)
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To: rellimpank

mark


31 posted on 03/19/2008 6:54:31 AM PDT by Dysart
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To: Corin Stormhands
Well, I have to admit I’m biased. My son is an extra in the film.

Hey, that's pretty cool! I missed my one and only opportunity to be an extra in Shawshank Redemption, which was filmed (at least the outside scenes) close to where I lived, in Mansfield OH. The old Ohio State Reformatory has been used by Hollywood for several films, including Tango and Cash, and a brief scene in AirForce One.

How are ya, Corin? Haven't talked in quite a while.

32 posted on 03/19/2008 6:56:07 AM PDT by nobdysfool (Taglines are so last year.....)
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To: Artemis Webb
I will never give HBO another chance to revise history since I saw their dramatization of the Chicago Seven trial.

It really depends on the production company. McCullough was involved in this production, so I don't think this is going to be revised history.

33 posted on 03/19/2008 6:56:52 AM PDT by Pyro7480 ("Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, esto mihi Jesus" -St. Ralph Sherwin's last words at Tyburn)
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To: Antoninus
I believe they were sheep herders, not cowboys. Cattlemen have never liked sheep herders and would probably appreciate their characterization in “Bareback Mtn”.
34 posted on 03/19/2008 6:56:55 AM PDT by allmendream ("A Lyger is pretty much my favorite animal."NapoleonD)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost

John Adams had a chip on his shoulder and was highly resentful of anyone who appeared to be more successful than him. His rather bitter personality meant that he would never enjoy the personal adulation or respect of the other founders. I would have rather spent time with Newark’s own Aaron Burr at his Harlem estate than a minute with John Adams.


35 posted on 03/19/2008 6:57:45 AM PDT by Clemenza (I Live in New Jersey for the Same Reason People Slow Down to Look at Car Crashes)
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To: nobdysfool

Doin’ okay. Busier than I should be. And yourself?

My son’s “moment” was very brief. We had to play it back and stop it frame by frame to find him. He was only able to do one day because it required missing school. When Adams meets the group after the first battle (in the woods), my son runs behind Paul Giamati.

But hey, he got $100 for that 5 seconds of “fame.”


36 posted on 03/19/2008 6:58:57 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (When life gives you lemons...don't forget the vodka...)
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To: rellimpank

So far a good miniseries.Better than the usual mindless stuff on TV these days(Reality shows,etc).Can you imagine if the original framers of this country were dropped into the 21st century what their reactions would be.I look forward to watching the rest.

A disclaimer;I am a descendant of John Adams,or so I’ve been told by one old family members who did the research back in the day.


37 posted on 03/19/2008 6:59:30 AM PDT by GQuagmire (Giggety,Giggety,Giggety)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
Thanks for posting the text of the law.

The article you posted is rather tendentious, however.

38 posted on 03/19/2008 7:00:17 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: aft_lizard
Franklin, although he described himself as a ‘thorough Deist’; was not at all against something being ‘preachy’. He supported many different religious institutions and supported a really great orator who was filling in the pews until it was revealed that his sermons were plagiarized.
39 posted on 03/19/2008 7:01:05 AM PDT by allmendream ("A Lyger is pretty much my favorite animal."NapoleonD)
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To: wideawake

Well, the article was written by a librarian (no offense to librarians here), but I think the facts cited are sound.


40 posted on 03/19/2008 7:02:12 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("We must not forget that there is a war on and our troops are in the thick of it!"--Duncan Hunter)
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