All language subtitles for The Adams Chronicles s01e06 President

Four generations of one family their
lives and causes reveal 150

years of American history

You do solemnly swear that you will
faithfully execute the office of the

President of the United States and will
preserve, protect, and defend the

Constitution of the United States.

I do solemnly swear that I will
faithfully execute the office of the

of the United States and will, to the
best of my ability, preserve, protect,

defend the Constitution of the United
States.

So help me God.

March, 1797.

John Adams became the second president
of the United States.

But with the high office came great
problems.

the political opposition led by Vice
President Thomas Jefferson, and the

difficulty of maintaining a neutral
stance towards both France and England.

If Mr. Adams can be induced to
relinquish his bias toward an English

constitution, it may be for the public
good to come to an understanding with

him.

At least he was the one sure barrier
against the election of Mr. Hamilton.

It is a sad comment on the state of the
country that Mr. Adams should have been

elected by such a small majority.

Nonetheless, had Mr. Jefferson won the
presidency, it would have been

reason for dissolving the Union.

From an habitual attention to the
Constitution, satisfaction in its

administration, and delight in its
effects upon the peace, order,

and happiness of the nation, I have
acquired an habitual attachment to it

and a veneration for it.

Can anything more than mere ornament and
decoration be added to this by robes

and diamonds?

Can anything be more respectable than
the authority that springs afresh from

hearts and judgments of an honest and
enlightened people?

And may that being who is supreme over
all continue his blessings upon this

nation and its government and give it
all possible success and duration

consistent with the ends of his
providence.

Well, sir, I am fairly out and you are
fairly in.

See which of us will be happiest.

And so your father became president with
a minimum of ceremony, just as you

wished. You should have been there too,
Mother.

No, we thought better of it.

None of the other wives were present.

And it seemed awkward for me to live in
rented lodgings... just hanging on until

the Washingtons departed.

Now Mr.

Adams can settle into the presidential
mansion... and I'll come following

I wanted to be there.

And might have been if things had been
different.

If our finances had been better.

Business matters have not improved with
Colonel Smith.

Then he's showing himself to be a true
Adams, my dear.

The Adams family has not yet learned the
subtleties of commerce.

Well, at least you'll make your own
grand entrance into Philadelphia.

Oh, no, your father was most particular
about that.

I'm to come as quickly as possible and
hang the cost and inconvenience, but I'm

to come demurely.

He made a point of telling me to remove
that Quincy coat of arms I had put on my

coach.

It's to be totally obliterated.

Oh, dear.

Mr. Adams was most urgent in his last
letter.

He says he has a violent cough and he's
worn out and in need of my advice.

Well, I long to be with him as much as
he has need of me.

One month into my administration, and,
Abigail, they still speak of me with

affection. One of the Baltimore papers
called me an old fielder.

An old fielder, my dear, is a tough,
hardy, laborious little horse that works

very hard and lives upon very little.

Very useful to his master at small
expense.

Well, dear friend, let us see what they
will think of me and the troubles that

lie ahead.

The coming months do not have an air of
tranquility about them.

In the newly arisen troubles with
France, I do not believe I have the full

confidence of my cabinet.

Only Charles Lee seems completely behind
me.

Secretary Pickering spouts fire whenever
he speaks.

The French have seized our ships in the
West Indies. They slam the door on our

faces when we try to talk with them.

and they threw our envoy, General
Pinckney, off French soil. In my

there is no alternative left, none at
all, but war.

Well spoken, Mr. Pickering. Now, just a
minute, gentlemen.

The recent revolution in France was a
travesty. They changed their government

like we change our clothes.

Now it's this new, oh, whatchamacallem,
the Directory.

Five ignorant men trying to govern
France.

Men like that only understand a fight.
We cannot leap to arms without giving

French government a fair chance.

Had I been allowed the time to express
it, that would have been my opinion, Mr.

Lee. We will send another mission to
France.

And let ourselves be ground into the
dust, humiliated and insulted by a

full of wine drinkers.

Negotiation is only one aspect of my
plan, Mr. Pickering. We parley, but at

same time, we arm.

Now, that is my decision.

America cannot always be the cat's paw
of England and France.

I plan to recommend the following
measures to the Congress.

Immediate creation of a strong navy.

An increase in the army, artillery, and
cavalry. Hear, hear.

Your opinion cannot help but be our own,
Mr. Paulson.

I called you here, Thomas, because I
need to consult with you.

The nation has placed us in harness
together. Now let us try to pull in the

direction.

I'm sorry I grew heated.

But as you know, the French cause is
very dear to me, Mr. President.

There's no need for this formality
between us. Let us begin by calling each

other by our Christian names, as we used
to do.

In those days, John, we agreed with one
another.

Politically and philosophically.

Well, our goals were simpler then.

When we sat together here in
Philadelphia and made a revolution, it

words that helped form this nation.

And your stubbornness and honesty.

I shall attempt to work with you as best
I can. Thank you.

Now,

About this mission that I want to send
to Paris.

Pinckney must remain, of course. Now,
who else do you suggest?

Send one more Federalist. And a good,
staunch Anti -Federalist to balance the

barrel. Yes, that's sensible.

What is your view of Elbridge Gerry?

I trust the man's intelligence.

Fine, I shall appoint him then.

Now, about the preparations for our
defense.

You should consult our finest military
mind for that.

Mr. Alexander Hamilton, the great.

I will not have this feud between the
two of you, sir. I am trying to show you

Hamilton's true nature. He's the largest
danger we face. I cannot defend the

man's morals nor his overwhelming
ambition.

But I know he sees the world for what it
is.

And Hamilton and I are much more in
accord about this nation's future than

and I shall ever be. By God, sir, he
supports the aristocracy.

He has no liking for the people. Nor on
occasion do I.

Men have always been led by selfish
motives.

Though they sometimes disguise them
under high -sounding names, as your

in power are now doing. The Directory is
nothing more than a dummy government,

nothing more than Napoleon's puppets. As
is Talleyrand. They're all his

creatures. As your cabinet are
Hamilton's. Sir! Only poor Meek Lee is

you. Don't you know that?

But you could move now.

Ask for resignations. Put together a new
cabinet, one devoted to you... Mr.

Jefferson, you are insolent.

You overstep your prerogative, sir.

I'm sorry, Mr.

President.

I thought we were having an informal
discussion.

Within limits, sir.

No, sir.

I shall keep the cabinet as it is.

Washington was convinced of their
integrity.

That is sufficient for Adams.

Here we are, Mr. Hamilton.

I trust these notes on the cabinet
meeting will be informative enough?

Pickering and Walcott can be the
regards.

And like me, await your advice.

I assume you want us to stand firm for
war.

I don't give a fig for war. We can't
afford it now.

But if after serious negotiations all
attempts at peace become impossible,

well... You are the Secretary of War.

It is your responsibility to see that we
have enough money and public support

for ships and guns.

If we make war, we must do it as a
respectable nation should.

Oh, John, let's open the windows and let
the good spring air in.

Put down those papers and come to the
window with me.

You see how bright the afternoon sun is?

It's spring.

Yes.

Oh, Abigail, how I have missed you.

And I, you.

There were so many delays.

First the weather, then your mother's
death.

I couldn't leave until things were
properly arranged.

And then I had to have a day with
Charlie in New York. You'd be proud of

John. Would I?

Oh, he set up a pretty little house.

And he and his wife live quite frugally.

Charles, oh, I doubt that.

It's true, at least for now.

And I've done everything I must and
managed to come to you with the spring.

Yes.

I don't know what it is about this
afternoon.

The weather, these flowers, you.

But I feel like a bride again.

Well, we're poor as newlyweds, that's
certain.

After all these years, Abigail, I should
be able to give you something more.

Mr. Adams, you've given me everything.

And as for this presidential mansion,
give me a few weeks and you'll see what

wife can do.

A few more good pieces of furniture,
carpets, draperies, and it will be a

showpiece.

I will make it a center of political
conciliation.

We shall have these senators and judges
and foreign ministers to diplomatic

evenings.

We'll give them a tasty meal and
pleasant conversation.

And a dose of hard medicine.

We did it in London.

We can do it in Philadelphia.

Would you listen to this?

My sunshine friend, Mr. Benjamin
Franklin Beach, has turned with the

I was elected a little over a year ago,
he said it was the time for rejoicing.

Now he calls me a monarchist, the Duke
of Braintree.

Oh, John, pay no heed.

Well, I am resigned to being a man
increasingly alone.

My advisors are strangers, my friends
fade away.

How can you say that when we're besieged
with invitations?

All my free time is spent answering
letter after letter.

Well, and what's to be done with this?

What? It's an invitation to a ball,
February 22nd, to celebrate the birth

of George Washington.

No, that's impossible.

A president cannot attend a function
honoring a private citizen. That's

improper.

No matter how good, great General
Washington was, he is no longer in

office.

I'm sure no offense was intended, John.

Perhaps not.

I'm not taking this personally. It's the
office I'm trying to protect, not

myself.

Sometimes the boundaries between the two
become confused.

Is it my own vanity?

No.

This time you are absolutely correct.

You must not attend that ball in a
secondary capacity.

There.

Declined.

That.

And now, Mr. Adams.

Let us have an end to this day and a
good night's rest.

Oh, there's too much work to be done.

Yet nothing seems to get accomplished.

Not a word from our envoys in France.

Until I know how Pinckney and the others
have been received, I'm helpless.

How do I prepare?

Is it for a treaty or a war?

Gentlemen, nothing's happening.

By God, it's time to do something. We've
been here for months.

Well, Mr. Marshall, we can hardly expect
Tallerand to come here in person and

ask for the bribe himself.

Oh, please, monsieur, not a bribe. Et
tu, sir?

Certain sums to be taken out of the loan
we have requested.

Why, you understand the customary
distribution in diplomatic affairs, eh?

A little sweetening, a little oil to
lubricate the negotiations.

Three of them.

three damn emissaries from his evidence,
Talleyrand.

And each one talks more slyly than the
other.

It's a wonder they have enough for us a
little cream for our assistance.

Well, gentlemen, are we at home to
Monsieur Hotval?

No more of this, Marshal. I say, if
Talleyrand himself hasn't come to tea,

should turn them all away. Come now,
gentlemen, let us see him. Guard, you're

on.

Have him in. We must get things moving
here. Show him in.

Monsieur.

Monsieur Marshall.

Monsieur Guéry. Monsieur Pinckney.

At your service.

I've come again to make sure that
matters are quite clear to you.

Monsieur Ottinger and Bellamy tried to
be precise.

Would they speak as bankers? Oh, we
understand quite well, monsieur. The

the deucer, all of it.

But we have come to Paris, monsieur, to
negotiate.

To right certain wrongs committed
against our shipping.

Actually, we've grown very tired of
hints and evasions, monsieur.

Very well.

Let me speak exactly then.

My government, the Directoire, is in
need of assurances of your good faith.

Now, you talk of treaties, but you
insult our pride and our national honor

spending millions to arm your nation for
war.

Millions? Certainly not, sir.

Specific sums do not matter.

And you cannot deny you trade with the
English.

As a neutral nation, we have that right.

Fine.

Let us deal with rights and obligations.

Here.

These are our firm and bending
conditions for a treaty.

Together with those other requirements
already discussed with Monsieur

and Bellamy.

Ah, yes, the loan, the douceur.

This is damned unethical.

How much?

How much do you expect us to pay for the
privilege of speaking with Monsieur de

Talleyrand and arranging the treaty? Oh,
I am not sure. I think perhaps 1 ,200

,000 livres. A quarter of a million
dollars?

That's highway robbery.

1 ,200 ,000 livres in gold.

One payment, no notes.

This isn't negotiation, sir.

This is blackmail, pure and simple. No,
this is protection for your nation.

When France wins her war with England,
we will be the most powerful nation in

the world.

We will honor our friends.

And we will pound our enemies into the
dust.

Well, then you will see how little this
token is.

Then you will pay for a treaty.

How you will pay.

French government has gone mad.

First they ask a fortune in bribes, and
then they invent a new maritime law.

Names and fools. That's all the French
can be. Did you see this, Mr. Pickering?

The French government now declares that
every ship at sea carrying goods of

English manufacturers is fair prize. No
matter what flag that ship is flying.

That makes most of our merchant fleet
liable to seizure.

I will not have the United States
treated in this manner. We must

Agreed. But we cannot declare war at
once.

We must wait until our commissioners are
safely out of Paris. We are with you,

sir. A solid issue, but we might best
delay a little. Never!

I propose we end all trade with France
at once. And I concur.

Moreover, from this point, all American
ships are to sail fully armed, ready to

defend themselves with honor against any
attack.

If we are agreed, gentlemen... Wait now.
We have not consulted everyone.

Where is our vice president, Mr. Adams?

Indeed.

Where is his well -considered voice?

Mr. Jefferson wishes to absent himself
from the government.

In short, he is against us. He is too
strong a friend of France. And he has

allies among the people. Now, the whole
temper of the country has changed.

The talk is now all for peace.

Americans arguing the French cause.

It's a disgrace.

And journalists crying out against our
government. Against you, Mr. President.

Predictions such as that should be
suppressed.

And what about the 20 ,000 Frenchmen who
live on our shores? Well, to act

against them, we need proof, sir.

Legal proof? Proof be damned!

They're spies, the whole lot of them.

Talleyrand's agents.

It's time to show them we have peace.

Well, Mrs. Adams, what startling news
have you read in the papers?

Nothing.

The usual.

That's Bates' paper, isn't it?

What does he have to say about me this
time?

Nothing of any interest, John.

Don't even bother to read it.

Old, querulous, bald, blind, crippled,
toothless Adams.

You think that's an apt description?

Johnny is your evil angel.

Why, here, Bates says you arbitrarily
declared a war on France without

consulting Congress or the people. I
have not declared a war.

I wish I could make those new dispatches
from Paris public. They would sing a

different tune then.

Then why don't you?

Our envoys are still in France. Their
lives would be in jeopardy.

If I kept Talleyrand's agents anonymous,
call them X, Y, Z.

I cannot instigate the revolution.

Congress must somehow find out about
them and demand that I release those

dispatchers to them.

Well, then, there are enough loyal
Federalists to take a well -placed hint.

I want the Republicans to make the
demand. That way, I cannot be accused of

inciting public opinion for my own
political good. I want the Republicans

make such a hue and cry that I will be
forced to make dispatchers public.

Then if I am forced to reveal them, I
have no choice.

I shall make it all public.

The whole sordid affair, that demand for
a quarter of a million dollars, all the

insults that our commissioners and our
nation have been forced to endure from

those... those anonymous messieurs X, Y,
Z.

Well, I surprise myself.

I may have instigated an intrigue.

I never would have dreamed it possible a
month ago.

But ever since the public release of the
XYZ affair, the country's turned round

once more.

They all want war again, Republicans and
Federalists alike.

The issue is, has always been, to show
the world that we're a nation to be

reckoned with.

And for that, we need a navy.

And our army, our wretched little army,
must be shaped.

into a respectable unit.

I've done research.

Look at this.

I know the proper uniforms, the best
colors.

I even know the most efficient marching
pace to be used.

The last cabinet meeting made things
very clear.

The Army's primary.

Mr. Adams is about to appoint Washington
commander.

It'll be a second in the command.

The caretaker in the field who will be
crucial, Pickering.

Who has Adam suggested?

He's left the choice to Washington.

The general's deliberating between Knox,
Pinckney, and you, of course.

Can we influence him?

The general's already leaning towards
you, sir.

But I'll bombard the old man with
letters of advice.

You'll get your position, Mr. Hamilton.
You can rely on me.

The evening's young yet, Pickering.

To General Alexander Hamilton.

Brave commander, honored leader, future
president of the United States of

America.

Did you hear that cheering?

Well, I heard some loud noise. It was
for me.

I have become the people's man once
more.

Yet I must admit I like the admiration
of the crowd.

I thought it wouldn't matter to me. But
when those students cheered me just now,

or when the journalists praised me, I
find that I am very pleased.

Down vanity.

Yes, yes.

Oh, John, look at you. You're exhausted.

Up past midnight working every night.

I could not bear it if you should become
ill again. Oh, I'm all right.

The only thing that both of us need is a
ramble in the Quincy woods.

No state business pressing on my mind.

Every time an act of Congress passes
that desk, I...

That new Sedition Act.

It's true. I signed it to protect the
nation.

Was I right?

To speak out sensibly against the
government, even against the president,

citizen's right.

Where is the line between sedition and
free speech? Who defines it?

I have devoted my life to the law and
liberty.

Now am I turning around and becoming a
despot?

Worse than a monarch because the people
put me here.

Never.

You were a democrat and a patriot.

And the nation's lucky to have a solid
old country man like you.

Johnny is sure of his facts.

You know him, Father?

Has he ever spoken before being very
sure of what he says?

Yes, you're right, Thomas. Your brother
is a cautious man.

And after four years of working with him
at the Hague and Berlin, I've caught

some of the disease.

Well, I am glad to hear that.

He and William Vansmery are sure the
whole mood of France has changed.

Well, he implies the French are ready to
talk terms. Exactly.

Well, it makes sense.

They are defeated everywhere.

Admiral Nelson has destroyed their
entire Mediterranean fleet.

Napoleon's been cut off in Egypt.

Of course they want an Atlantic ally
now.

Vance Murray is sure of it.

But those French are devious. He could
be gold.

I think not, Father.

He's respected in The Hague as your
minister.

Yes. And he's shrewd.

Unerring instincts.

And it was Vance Murray who received
assurances straight from Talleyrand.

Now you can get your peace.

An honorable peace.

Well, look at you. You have become a
serious young statesman.

I am proud of you.

Have you enjoyed your time abroad?

Oh, yes.

John Quincy's a good master.

Is he?

How is his health?

Fine.

Marriage suits him well.

Louisa Catherine is beautiful, charming
hostess. Is she?

He is anxious about Charles.

Yes, well, Charles is not well.

When I last saw him in New York, Thomas,
he was oddly distracted.

He's drinking heavily, besieged by
creditors.

I would like you to go and see him.

Perhaps a visit from you, news of
Johnny's happiness, would bring him back

himself.

Oh, I must think about Johnny's news,
Thomas.

If I were to make a move of conciliation
now, after having revealed the XYZ

papers, I would be drawn and quartered
by the Congress to say nothing of the

cabinet.

But if I could avoid a war...

It would be a tremendous coup, sir.

To snatch peace at the last second.

And now John Quincy's giving you the
ammunition.

Yes.

It would cause an earthquake.

Oh, Thomas, I am submerged in intrigue
and subterfuge.

Intrigue, sir? Indeed.

I'm now convinced that Jefferson was
right when he warned me about my

They're nothing more than Hamilton's toy
soldiers.

They speak his words, and for two years
they have fooled me.

Like the simple farmer I am.

Yes.

Vance Murray might be the right man. He
might do well as minister to France.

But if I sent him, I would have to keep
the decision secret.

Spring it on them when it's too late to
stop me.

Mr. President, we have come here jointly
to express our deep shock over your

appointment of Ben's murder. Our protest
against this news sought... You have

violated a sacred principle of
government, sir. Yes, I thought you

would want to speak with me today.

Well, go ahead. One at a time, I will
hear you all out. We were mortified,

embarrassed, horrified, going over our
heads to Congress.

Unforgivable, sir.

It can only be interpreted as an act of
contempt towards your cabinet.

You have violated our mutual trust. Not
the first time that has happened among

us, Mr. Pickering. Mr. Adams, you have
jeopardized the entire policy we've been

working toward for two years.

Sending Vance Murray now to Paris is
simply to say we are weak and afraid.

I thought we were going to speak from
strength. I see a chance for peace. I am

going to take it. You are humiliating
the United States.

It is not respectable, sir. It is
eminently respectable, sir.

The letter of conciliation from
Talleyrand makes it so.

And Vance Murray will not be sent to
Paris until Talleyrand makes his private

assurances aloud in public.

Mr. President, the cabinet refuses to
accept this nomination.

You think to threaten me, sir?

Well, let me give you an ultimatum of my
own.

Either the Senate approves Vance Murray
or I resign.

And let me remind you that should I
leave office, the rest of my term would

fulfilled by my vice president.

Do you think you would fare any better
with Mr. Jefferson in a matter

France? Come now, gentlemen, let us be
calm. Calm? I am calm, sir.

You stated what you would do, and I
replied.

You three have made my administration so
burdensome and so unpleasant that I

should be only too glad for the chance
to resign, to retire to private life.

cannot completely refuse to compromise,
Mr. President.

All right, one compromise, no more.

To Vance Murray's name, I shall add the
names of two more envoys.

You may submit your candidates.

Good day, gentlemen.

Let us not be hasty, Mr. President. Good
day, Mr.

Wolcott.

Mr. President.

Well, Mr. Stoddard.

Good afternoon, Mr. Secretary.

I trust it was cooler on the road.

I cannot remember an August that was
this hot.

No, sir.

The heat's covering the whole
countryside.

All the way up from Trenton.

I receive word regularly.

Tell me the move went smoothly.

Very smoothly.

The government's well established in
Trenton now, not that it will do much

The yellow fever's spreading up from
Philadelphia.

And it will stop soon when this heat
spell breaks.

I hope so.

Too many people have died in this
epidemic.

Would you care for some refreshment, Mr.
Stoddard? No, thank you, sir.

I trust you will forgive this intrusion.

It was necessary.

I've been writing to you for months, Mr.
Adams, but I receive no replies.

Well, have you come to bring me news of
our Navy?

The Navy prospers.

Shipbuilding goes on.

I must be blunt, sir.

You are desperately needed in Trenton.
There's been trouble beyond belief.

No, sir. Nothing can be that severe.

I shall come to Trenton in the fall.

The petty machinations of government are
beginning to annoy me, Mr. Stoddard.

Lee and I do our best, but we are unable
to act.

The new peace mission is still on our
shores.

Hamilton and his friends in the cabinet
do everything they can to delay your

French ministers. If it goes on like
this, we may find ourselves in the midst

war.

Please, Mr. President, come back to your
duties.

No, I cannot come now.

I will not come.

My wife has been desperately ill.

She is just now recovering, and my place
is here with her.

I need some peace myself.

If there is any news of importance, you
may communicate it to me here.

I shall return to work, Mr. Studdard,
but in my own time.

The summer is over.

The harvest is in.

In October.

I shall come to Trenton in October.

I knew it. You would have gone off
without these in your carriage.

You're not to be trusted, Mr. Adams.

You forget like a boy.

Now, here.

Have one this moment.

These are the finest apples our
orchard's ever produced.

Well, I would rather stay here and eat
them with you, Mrs. Adams.

If our love depended on being together,
Mr. Adams, it would have already died.

It will be in my thoughts.

And today is the perfect day to start a
journey.

Yes, here in Quincy. The air is as sharp
as hard cider.

But in Trenton, it will be soggy and
grimy. It's no better a capital than

Philadelphia.

I hope the new federal city will be more
beneficial to my health.

I think I might stay a few more days.

You are committed to leave, sir.

I feel one of my great colds coming on.
Would you have me doctored by strangers?

This is no time for games, John Adams.

You have a nation awaiting your return.

Are you my wife or my conscience? Both.

And your dearest friend as well. Ah.

Now, if we were only an old couple used
to sitting by the fire, I'd welcome your

staying on with me.

But you made a choice long ago, and I
approve the choice.

Your obligations are stronger than your
personal desires.

I am off to Trenton to see that precious
mission off to France.

And if the yellow fever kills me, you
and the nation will be well rid of this

old obstacle.

I trust you have a few moments.

I will be brief and on my way.

Well, come in, sir, since you're already
in.

I am your friend, Mr. Adams.

You know I am your friend.

Is that what you've come to tell me?

If so, I am delighted to hear it. A man
is always in need of his friends.

I have come to give you advice, Mr.
President. Oh, advice.

It is in the best interest of the
country, of the party, and yourself,

If the mission to France is postponed
indefinitely, permanently.

You are wrong, Mr. Hamilton.

No, sir. You are misinformed, sir.

The French government is tottering.

Louis XVIII will be back on his throne
before Christmas.

The Republic is dead.

I should as soon believe that the sun,
the moon, and the stars will fall from

their orbits as that events of that sort
should ever take place.

I know my facts, sir.

Moreover, if there is peace with France,
there will be no army.

I am trying to give you a respectable
army, if you will let me.

If we are to take place with the other
major nations of the world, we need

damn it! You are too much involved with
the military, Mr. Hamilton.

There was a time when we were in accord
about the world.

But I fear that your good sense has been
damaged.

Not mine.

You're the one with no good sense.

You'll lose our status, our standing in
the world, and by God, sir, you'll lose

the federalist the next election.
Enough, sir. You are speaking to the

president. If you don't reconsider...
This conversation is over, Mr. Hamilton.

There is nothing more to say.

All right, then.

Lose us the election.

Surrender the presidency.

You don't deserve it anyway, and the
people know it.

Well, you rant away, Mr. Hamilton.

What you say may be true.

But I will have the peace.

On December 14, 1799, an era ended.

George Washington, first president of
the United States of America, died.

His example is now complete.

And it will teach wisdom and virtue to
men, not only in the present age, but in

future generations, as long as our
history shall be read.

It is altogether fitting, gentlemen,
that the new federal city to which our

capital will shortly be moved be named
for General Washington.

We must act quickly.

Washington's death, as tragic as it was
to the nation, it dealt even a greater

blow to his party.

Now the Federalists can never rise to
the elections.

We are in a few weeks' mourning for
General Washington.

But we should wear black for the rest of
our lives, McHenry.

Now the Federalists will be split
irretrievably asunder.

And that man is left to govern

with no one to control him.

Yes, I believe that completes our
business, gentlemen.

Oh, there is one appointment that you
gentlemen should be informed of. I have

named General C .C. Pinckney as
Commander -in -Chief of the Army of the

States.

But what of General Hamilton?

What of him?

I have made my appointment, sir.

Mr. McHenry, I intend to take only one
minute of your time.

I need to know more about your
department's business.

If you have some complaint, Mr.
President... Complaints? You are

sir. Business is always delayed in your
department. You neglected furnishing me

with a list of your recent appointments.
I had to ask two or three times before

I could get it. I certainly meant no
disrespect by the delay, sir. I want you

lay before me daily all the letters that
your department receives.

I have always shown you every letter of
importance, Mr. President. I receive

very few private letters. I don't want
to see your private letters, man.

The uniforms that you furnished our
soldiers with, Mr. McHenry, were of the

worst kind of cloth.

Those uniforms... No, now, do not
interrupt me. I will finish.

I know you play nothing but Hamilton's
game. I am on to you. Hamilton's game?

And your Hamilton is nothing but an
intriguer. A man devoid of all moral

principles. A bastard brat of a Scotch
pecker. Mr. President... I have been

saddled with you and Pickering long
enough.

Every member of Congress that I have
talked to tells me that you are

incompetent. If I am thought to be
incompetent, I shall resign.

Very well. I shall allow you to resign.

You will have my resignation in the
morning.

Good.

Good night, sir.

Good night.

I heard the disturbing.

What has been happening?

I was having a conference with Mr.
McHenry.

The president's house.

I hope it is a good home.

May only honest men sleep under this
roof.

We will be happy here, I think.

We have moved into so many houses,
Abigail, and I have yet to carry you

threshold.

I would have done it this time for sure,
but I'm a little older and frailer than

when we were married.

Let me begin your packing.

What?

The South Carolina returns have finally
come in.

We were completely defeated.

The Republicans took every electoral
vote.

John.

I'm so sorry.

Well, I'm not.

I'm almost relieved.

I admit I didn't expect to get such a
beating.

But at least it's clear now.

Without a doubt, Jefferson will be the
next president.

Well, I'm glad it's over, Mr. Adams.

I'll be happy leaving this huge white
barn.

With my age and my infirmities, I'll be
happier and quinsy. Yes, back to my

books and my farming.

Well, it was the life I was born for, I
swear it.

On March 5th, I will begin a new life.

I will be Farmer John of Peacefield.

And at last we can be together.

Just the two of us.

Yes.

Perhaps the United States has done us a
great service helping me into

retirement.

I'm sorry to interrupt. It's all right,
Thomas. I know about the South Carolina

returns. I got the news this morning.

No, sir, not that.

What is it?

It's Charles, Mother.

He's not sick again.

The last time I saw him, he...

He's died, Mother.

Oh, my God.

Has he?

He was the darling of my life.

Oh, that I had died for him.

It seems so strange.

I had never expected to see one of my
children dead.

Now I'll be laying my third baby to
rest.

It seems against nature.

I want to go home.

Yes.

I want to mourn in peace.

Years in public life have robbed you all
of your privacy.

Your... Perhaps it was too great a
burden for Charles.

Oh, God, Charles.

I would have given it all up.

There's nothing so wonderful about the
presidency.

Nothing at all.

Compared to a son?

They've stopped for the day after the
33rd ballot, and still it is undecided.

73 electoral votes for Jefferson, 73
votes for Burr.

Damn his ambitious soul!

Where did he come from, anyway?

Well, a lucky thing for both of us that
Adams didn't fall between the two of us.

They take another ballot tomorrow.

How many votes for Adamson?

Sixty -five.

He put up a good showing then. I'm glad
for that.

He's always been a staunch and honest
man.

I... I've come to pay my respects, Mr.
President.

Thank you, Mr. President.

You're most kind.

In the name of our friendship, John. We
have not been friends for years.

Politics drove us apart.

And you have won, Mr. Jefferson.

Well, you're more in tune with the
nation than I am.

The United States seems to possess the
happy illusion of immortality.

But other nations have risen and fallen.

There is no special providence for us.
We're not a chosen people that I know

We must and shall go the way of the
earth.

But we ought to contend.

We ought to try to swim against the wind
and tide as long as we can.

I hope to God you can finish out your
term without bitterness and regret.

No one.

your defeat more than myself, sir. Spare
me your condolences, Mr.

Jefferson.

Let me go and heal my wounds in private.

I shall live out my remaining days in
anonymity.

Why, you'll never be obscure, sir.

I'll see.

Even at my inauguration, you'll be
acclaimed as the president who kept the

peace.

I shall not attend your ceremony.

I refuse to be a specter at my own
funeral.

I will regret the absence of your
support, sir.

Enjoy your triumph, Mr. Jefferson.

Accept the adulation of the people...
while it lasts.

You do solemnly swear that you will
faithfully execute the office of the

President of the United States and will
preserve, protect, and defend the

Constitution of the United States?

I do so solemnly swear that I will
faithfully execute the office of the

President of the United States and will
preserve, protect, and defend the

Constitution of the United States.

So help me God.

John Adams felt that Jefferson's
administration would be quoted by

as a model of profound wisdom, by
politicians as weak, superficial, and

short -sighted. His own, he felt, would
be labeled as having no character at

all. In fact, John Adams left a
distinctive imprint on history.

He maintained peace and won for his
country a growing respect abroad.

To achieve this, however, Adam
sacrificed his political career as well

private life.