First Son and President: https://amzn.to/3SDDEoM
This short book is designed for children, it is well written and captures the very full life of John Quincy Adams very well.
John Quincy Adams struck me as a unique man in an already unique period of history. As the son of the second US President, he saw the shaping of the US from his earliest days and then went on to shape the US in ways that still impact us all today. He was qualified, but also benefited from just being present and available to his father at significant points of history.
His time in Europe clearly influenced him, but, from what I can understand, only in ways that helped amplify what was already great about the US. He did not try to pull the US back into the failures of the old empires.
His leadership, vision, writings, speeches and more continue to make a difference in the world today.
Morally he was impressive. He opposed slavery, something very unpopular among many at the time; sowed the initial ideas of what are now national parks; dedicated his life to public service (he’s still the only US President to serve in congress after his presidency); and showed loyalty and love to his family.
His reputation is free from personal scandals— he wasn’t guilty of infidelity, financial corruption, or abuse of power. Adams was deeply respected for his moral character and public service, even when his political career was unpopular or contentious.
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