Adams had the misfortune to follow the heroic GEORGE WASHINGTON in office. Unlike GEORGE WASHINGTON, he was unable to elevate the presidency above politics. His hold on the American public's attention was tenuous. He commanded little loyalty in his own administration. His relations with Congress were troubled. But Adams' instincts about the nation's needs were probably right. And his foreign policy was effective. In the end, he proved that the United States could survive without heroic leadership.
Government Leadership
Adams was a poor executive. He was bored by administrative detail. While he was in office, he spent nearly a full year at home in Massachusetts. Adams retained GEORGE WASHINGTON's cabinet. But he never commanded their loyalty. In the dying days of his administration, he made his notorious "midnight appointments." After Adams left office, partisanship was almost always a factor in presidential appointments.
Political Leadership
Adams was a Federalist. He failed as a political leader. While he was president, the Federalist Party nearly disintegrated. It lost its role as the nation's leading political party. It was supplanted by the Republican Party. Adams was the last Federalist president.
Civil and Human Rights
Adams sponsored the hated Alien and Sedition Acts. He infringed sacred constitutional rights to silence his political opponents. The Sedition Act was particularly harsh. But it was not wholly unreasonable. The fragile new nation was on the brink of war. Still, Adams set an unfortunate precedent. Some later presidents would use national security as a pretext for silencing political dissidents.
The Economy, Taxes, Regulation, and International Trade
Adams inherited a federal government with almost no financial resources. Import duties and GEORGE WASHINGTON's whiskey tax provided its only revenue. Adams imposed the first federal tax on property. He wanted to finance the national defense. But his tax was so unpopular that it provoked a rebellion. Adams never convinced the public that the federal property tax served the national interest.
Foreign Affairs
Adams managed foreign affairs well. He took the country to the brink of war with France. In the process, he reaffirmed the nation's independence. Adams also strengthened the president's power to conduct foreign policy. He complied with his obligation to keep Congress informed. But he protected the president's right to withhold information damaging to the national security.
War and Peace
Adams achieved his greatest triumph when he avoided war with France. He stood against his own Federalist Party and preserved the peace. By avoiding war, Adams enabled THOMAS JEFFERSON to concentrate on the westward expansion.
The Historical Legacy
Adams named John Marshall chief justice of the Supreme Court. Appointing Marshall is often said to be his greatest contribution to posterity. Yet, that view hardly does Adams justice. He lacked the temperament to be a great national leader. But proposed a far-sighted plan for developing the nation. Adams also kept the new American republic intact. The odds were still against its survival. After he was defeated for reelection, Adams quietly passed power to his newly elected successor.
