Who Was John Adams' Closest Adviser?
John Adams was a President who kept his own counsel. It is difficult for me to imagine who his closest adviser might be, aside from his wife Abigail. When he became President, Adams decided to keep all of Washington's cabinet and to continue all of the major programs of the Washington Administration. He pursued a strong central government, and an expanded navy and army. His economic programs were a continuation of those began by Alexander Hamilton. Though out of cabinet, Hamilton regularly consulted with key cabinet members, especially Secretary of the Treasury, Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Some historians such as David McCullough question Adams' decision to keep Washington's cabinet. Many of the cabinet members remained closer to Hamilton than to the new president, but Adams believed that their retention meant a smoother succession. Adams remained quite independent of his cabinet throughout his term. He often made decisions in spite of strong opposition from the members of cabinet. By doing so, he avoided war with France, despite a strong desire among his many in his cabinet to fight the French.
In his book From Colony to Superpower: US Foreign Relations Since 1776, author and historian George Herring takes the position that Adams was the most independent-minded of all the founders. Although he was aligned with the Federalists, he really had no strong loyalty to any party. He disagreed with the Federalists almost as much as he did the Democratic-Republican opposition, but as Herring states, Adams' independence often led to good decisions in the face of almost universal hostility. According to Herring, it was Adams' decision to push for peace with France, rather than to continue hostilities, that hurt his popularity. Though this decision played an important role in his reelection defeat, Adams believed so much in the correctness of this decision that he had it engraved on his tombstone. (It reads: "Here lies John Adams, who took upon himself the responsibility of Peace with France in the year 1800.")
Adams spent much of his term at his home in Massachusetts, leaving the details of political patronage to others. He himself later wrote of his time as president, "I refused to suffer in silence. I sighed, sobbed, and groaned, and sometimes screeched and screamed. And I must confess to my shame and sorrow that I sometimes swore."
In the final analysis, John Adams probably had no great adviser than his wife Abigail. Their marriage is well documented through their correspondence and their letters exchanged throughout his presidency and throughout their life strongly support the notion that his trust in her knowledge and judgement was sincere. Their correspondence demonstrated their mutual emotional and intellectual respect. Perhaps if they had lived at a time of gender equality, she may well have been the Hillary Clinton of her day, and may have the second President Adams, rather than her son. But I'll leave that speculation to those who write alternate history.
Some historians such as David McCullough question Adams' decision to keep Washington's cabinet. Many of the cabinet members remained closer to Hamilton than to the new president, but Adams believed that their retention meant a smoother succession. Adams remained quite independent of his cabinet throughout his term. He often made decisions in spite of strong opposition from the members of cabinet. By doing so, he avoided war with France, despite a strong desire among his many in his cabinet to fight the French.
In his book From Colony to Superpower: US Foreign Relations Since 1776, author and historian George Herring takes the position that Adams was the most independent-minded of all the founders. Although he was aligned with the Federalists, he really had no strong loyalty to any party. He disagreed with the Federalists almost as much as he did the Democratic-Republican opposition, but as Herring states, Adams' independence often led to good decisions in the face of almost universal hostility. According to Herring, it was Adams' decision to push for peace with France, rather than to continue hostilities, that hurt his popularity. Though this decision played an important role in his reelection defeat, Adams believed so much in the correctness of this decision that he had it engraved on his tombstone. (It reads: "Here lies John Adams, who took upon himself the responsibility of Peace with France in the year 1800.")
Adams spent much of his term at his home in Massachusetts, leaving the details of political patronage to others. He himself later wrote of his time as president, "I refused to suffer in silence. I sighed, sobbed, and groaned, and sometimes screeched and screamed. And I must confess to my shame and sorrow that I sometimes swore."
In the final analysis, John Adams probably had no great adviser than his wife Abigail. Their marriage is well documented through their correspondence and their letters exchanged throughout his presidency and throughout their life strongly support the notion that his trust in her knowledge and judgement was sincere. Their correspondence demonstrated their mutual emotional and intellectual respect. Perhaps if they had lived at a time of gender equality, she may well have been the Hillary Clinton of her day, and may have the second President Adams, rather than her son. But I'll leave that speculation to those who write alternate history.