ebooks John Quincy Adams: Militant Spirit by James Traub in History

Review

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful. Tremendous biography of an underappreciated statesmanBy Matthew L. ShineyMr. Traub has written an excellent biography of one of the most underappreciated titans of our Republic. Adams was a man of impeccable integrity and clung dearly to his principles of individual liberty; republicanism; foreign policy realism and nationalism; often at the expense of his political fortunes. His life serves as a model to counter the current status quo of of our self-serving politicians. He was a staunch defender of our founding principles and vigorously fought the "slavocracy" with passion and intellectual force.Traub does an excellent job of highlighting this man's virtues; as well as his faults. He has done a tremendous service to a man all but forgotten by history. With the exception of Alexander Hamilton and Mr. Adams' own father ; there may not be a man who was so instrumental to our history that receives less credit than he is due. He is without a doubt one of our greatest diplomats and congressmen.15 of 15 people found the following review helpful. One of the best presidential biographies I have ever read.By Mike PowersMy ongoing project to read a scholarly biography of every American president took a major step forward earlier this month when I discovered a brand-new biography of John Quincy Adams; the sixth President of the United States. Written by journalist and author James Traub; “John Quincy Adams: Militant Spirit” is a masterful example of the presidential biographer’s art. In this superb book; Traub draws a highly detailed and multi-dimensional portrait of John Quincy Adams and the times in which he lived.Born in 1767; John Quincy Adams was the oldest child of John Adams (American founding father and second president) and Abigail Smith Adams. Young John Quincy always strove to meet the high expectations of his parents; both of whom demanded from him not only great scholarly accomplishment; but also behavior of the highest rectitude.John Quincy acquired a first-rate classical education under the guidance of his father. He was keenly intellectual; and; by his own admission; highly reserved; judgmental; and rather cold and aloof – much like his parents. Also like his parents; he was a progressive thinker; and a lifelong; resolute foe of slavery.In his teen years and early adulthood; John Quincy Adams served as his father’s private secretary while the elder Adams was negotiating the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War. He was well traveled; he served as an ambassador of the fledgling United States to several European countries; all the while continuing his education.He returned home and briefly served as a Senator from Massachusetts. His unpopular stands on several issues led him to leave office before finishing his term. Later in life; he served as Secretary of State in the administration of President James Monroe. He was then elected as the sixth President of the United States; but once again his unpopularity led to his defeat for reelection to a second term. His long political career was not over; though. After he left the presidency; he was elected to the House of Representatives from his home district. He became the only person in American history to accomplish this. He served in the House for eight terms; until his death in 1848 at age 80.Traub examines in detail several key aspects of Adams' life. These include his not always harmonious marriage to Louisa Johnson Adams; a union marked by the tragedies of Louisa’s frequent miscarriages and the deaths of three of their children; Adams’s eloquent defense before the Supreme Court of 44 Africans who had escaped from the slave ship “Amistad;” and his ultimately successful ten-year battle in the Southern (and therefore pro-slavery) dominated House of Representatives against the “gag rule;” which prohibited House members from accepting anti-slavery petitions from their constituents.Traub backs up his supremely readable narrative of John Quincy Adams’s life with impressive scholarship. He relies extensively on John Quincy Adams’s diaries; which run to 51 volumes and over 14;000 pages. Traub also cites other biographical and historical works about Adams and the era in which he lived. Throughout this book; Traub demonstrates a thorough mastery not only of John Quincy Adams’s life but also of the times in which he lived.“John Quincy Adams: Militant Spirit” ranks among the best presidential biographies I have ever read. Most highly recommended.9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Well-researched and engaging look at an amazing manBy Gene KillianReading this book in a US election year was sort of depressing; because it made me (starkly) realize that; when it comes to many of our leaders; we're in a sort of reverse evolution. This book brings the brilliant and quirky John Quincy Adams to life. He's perhaps best described by the last words of the text; referring to his wife Louisa: "Her husband; whose soul she had penetrated as no other mortal had and whom she found exasperating; tendentious; intolerant; self-absorbed; and yet; in the end; magnificent." This is a wonderful book and well worth reading.