John Adams is a relative unknown considering he’s one of the Founding Fathers. He was extremely intelligent, a vastly accomplished lawyer, idealist and ideologist and was fundamentally convincing as advocate for liberty and independence.

Was being VP and President a step too far in the career of John Adams? Is his legacy forever tarnished as a result of the failures he presided over in the White House?

Is this a question people in politics ask themselves these days? Have I reached a level where I should consider myself at the peak of my powers? Would another step forward be a step too far?

In this podcast we talk about the Stamp Act, the Alien and Sedition Acts, The Quasi War and the XYZ Affair. It is fair to say that Adams does not emerge from his time in office, the first single-term president, with his reputation enhanced. ...