LIFE AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE, PART I

Top 2. Feb 22, 2001 7:04 PM

» jerrib - John Q Adams

had the pleasure of what very few men have in life. We was the top dog but happy to get off the porch and be a part of the machinery again. What a great career achievement.

And I didn't know that Jefferson and Madison (was it Madison - my short term memory leaves me?) died within hours of each other.

You do make history so interesting.

Jerri

-- posted by jerrib

Top 3. Mar 13, 2001 12:27 PM

» Brian Tubbs - Great article

A very good article, John. My apologies for being a bit behind in my reading on your page.

I agree with you that John Quincy Adams is our "greatest ex-President."

I would add that Washington is probably our saddest ex-President, in that all he ever wanted to do (after the American Revolution) was live peacefully at Mount Vernon. The country could never let him go - not even in his retirement after the presidency. Of course, it is a testament to the man's character that he was willing to answer the call to service so many times during his life.

-Brian Tubbs
Contributing Editor, Suite101.com
American Revolution & Founding Era

-- posted by Brian Tubbs

Top 4. Mar 14, 2001 8:49 AM

» Mugwump53 - Saddest Ex-President

As always, you add an interesting note to these posts. Your view of Washington as sad but self-sacrificing in his service to his country is accurate and fascinating. He did indeed wish nothing more than to live on his plantation at Mount Vernon and enjoy life. In the years between the Revolutionary War and his Presidency, he entertained many people, complete agricultural experiments years ahead of their time and still added to the political life of the nation. He also enjoyed his two years of retirement (with the exception of a brief tour of duty as commanding general in preparation for a war with France that never happened) after his Presidency.

But in spite of your astute observation, I would have to call Franklin Pierce our saddest ex-President. He left office disgraced, being the only elected President ever to be denied renomination by his party (even Hoover got renominated on the first ballot in 1932!). His wife died, he began drinking heavily, and his views on the Civil War made him extremely unpopular.

His best friend, Nathaniel Hawthorne, died in an adjoining bedroom while visiting Pierce in New Hampshire. Hawthorne had stated in his will and final instructions, that Pierce should be a pallbearer at his funeral. The other leading writers of the day refused to allow Pierce to participate in any way, and Pierce was forced to watch the funeral from the rear of the church and was not allowed to participate in the graveside ceremonies. In fact, he was complete snubbed, with nobody speaking to him during the entire proceeding.

His own state refused to build a statue of him, even though he was their only President, voting down the appropriation by a considerable margin. They did eventually build one earlier in this century, I believe.

So, all in all, I think Pierce was far more unhappy than Washington.

Thanks for bringing up such an interesting aspect of this article. If anyone else has any views on the subject, or any other for that matter, I would love to hear them.

-- posted by Mugwump53

Top 5. Mar 14, 2001 12:07 PM

» Brian Tubbs - Pierce v. Washington

In response to message posted by Mugwump53:

Actually, I thought of Pierce as I posted my note. I almost changed it to read that Washington was "one of the saddest ex-Presidents," but I didn't, because I feel that Pierce brought a lot of his problems on himself. Washington sacrificed his happiness for the good of his country. The same cannot necessarily be said for Pierce.

That said, I can't deny that Pierce had probably the most pathetic and unfortunate ex-presidency of any other. I knew about the drinking, but you educated me on the Hawthorne funeral. I never knew that. That is a real shame.

-Brian Tubbs
Contributing Editor, Suite101.com
American Revolution & Founding Era

-- posted by Brian Tubbs