JOHN ADAMS: OBNOXIOUS AND DISLIKED


are used to seeing in the Senate today. Admas felt it necessary to instruct his charges in the proper performance of their duties. Maclay complained in his journal "that before debate on any issue could begin, the Vice President insisted on addressing to the chamber a lecture on the constitutional responsibilities of the Senate. During debate, he was arbitrary and prejudiced in his decisions regarding who could and who could not participate. Before a vote could be taken, he would, like a schoolmaster talking to children, summarize the issue, or his own interpretation of it, and unhesitatingly instruct the Senators how to vote."

Maclay wrote other similar entries. "The Vice-President, as usual, made us two or three speeches." "The Vice-President made a speech, which was to me unintelligible." "The Vice-President made a harangue on the subject of order." "God forgive me for the vile thought, but I cannot help thinking of a monkey just put into breeches when I see him betray such evident marks of self-conceit."

Adams' feud with Thomas Jefferson, started during their election contests against each other, was finally resolved after they had both left office. In spite of their renewed friendship and lively correspondence during their final years, Adams' sense of rivalry continued. His last words were "Thomas Jefferson still survives!" Unbeknownst to Adams, Jefferson had died a few hours earlier at his home in Monticello, Virginia.

The copyright of the article JOHN ADAMS: OBNOXIOUS AND DISLIKED in American Presidents is owned by John S. Cooper. Permission to republish JOHN ADAMS: OBNOXIOUS AND DISLIKED in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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