It ’s never politics as common with HISTORY ’s new late - night serial . On this week ’s instalment ofJoin or Die with Craig Ferguson , the comedian and his celebrity panellist willdiscuss the larger-than-life rivalries that shaped the line of history . TakeThomas Jefferson and John Adams : The duad was , at least initially , a classical case of opposite word draw . In terminus of temperament , fostering , and physical appearance , these national leader could n’t have been more different . And , of course , their competing political orientation aid solidify America ’s two - party system . Nevertheless , the odd couple mold a heartfelt bond that would last for decades — albeit , one that was break by several years of bitter political warfare . translate on for more about their tumultuous family relationship .
1. THEY WORKED TOGETHER ON THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Here ’s a surprising fact for you U.S. chronicle burnish : Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were the only two United States President who ’d also contract this landmark written document . In 1775 , both men were sent by their respective colonies to serve as delegates in Philadelphia ’s 2nd Continental Congress . That summer , Adams and Jefferson crossed paths for the very first clock time .
Adams never draw a blank his earlier impression of the younger nationalist . “ Though a silent member in Congress , ” he ’d recall in 1822 , “ [ Mr. Jefferson ] was so straightaway , frank , explicit , and decisive upon committees and in conversation … that he soon seize upon my pump . ” On July 11 , 1776 , they were name to the “ Committee of Five”—a radical charged with penning a written argument that would make the determinate suit for colonial independence .
Jefferson was finally chosen to draw up the first draft of the Declaration . Why did the Virginian agree to tackle such a monumental task ? Adam later claimed that he ’d personally persuaded Jefferson , telling him “ I am obnoxious , mistrust and unpopular . You are very much otherwise ” and add , “ you could write ten times good than I can . ”
2. THE TWO PALLED AROUND EUROPE
Nowadays , we chiefly commend them as revolutionaries and air force officer - in - headman — their diplomatic accomplishments afield are often overlooked . In 1778 , Adams arrive in France to defend the rebel cause . After the warfare , he ’d function as America ’s first ambassador to Britain , from 1785 to 1788 .
In 1784 , Jefferson was sent to France , where he adjoin up with both Adams and Benjamin Franklin . Here , he befriended future First Lady Abigail Adams ( who joined her married man in Paris that summertime ) along with two of John ’s children : John Quincy and Abigail Amelia .
During their stay in Paris , these founding father saw a lot of each other . Jefferson frequently dined at the Adams ’ residence and frailty versa . On September 19 , they ’d meet up in Tuileries Gardens to watch a manned hot - air balloon begin an airborne journey that lasted nearly seven hours , a world record at the time .
Adams and Jefferson later explored the United Kingdom as traveling companions . Now the Minister to France , Jefferson crossed the English Channel on prescribed business in 1786 . With Adams at his side , the Sage of Monticello gossip William Shakespeare ’s former rest home . Discreetly , they each slice off a tiny piece of the Bard ’s preferent chair . relic do n’t get any more prestigious than that .
3. AS ADAMS’S VICE PRESIDENT, JEFFERSON QUIETLY UNDERMINED HIM
By the clip John Adams was sworn in as America ’s second president , a partizan divide had split the electorate . Once in office staff , the New Englander tried to seem as though he was above the fray . Yet , in practice , President Adams almost always sided with the Hamiltonian Federalists . Meanwhile , his own vice Chief Executive was the founding father and psyche of the opposing Democratic - Republican party .
Naturally , the two often detect themselves at odds . Never was this fact more plain than during the winter of 1798 . Disgusted by the Alien and Sedition Acts spearheaded by President Adams , Jefferson mounted an anonymous attack against them . Behind Adams ’s back , Jefferson drafted the creatively titled “ Kentucky Resolution , ” go by his handiwork along to ally in the Bluegrass State . The solvent passed that November .
4. THEY SQUARED OFF IN ONE OF THE UGLIEST PRESIDENTIAL RACES EVER FOUGHT
Contrary to popular belief , presidential politics have pretty much always been dirty . look at , for example , the election of 1800 , which pitted Adams against Jefferson in a play for the White House . Sam Adams ’s backer released a pamphlet that phone his opposer “ nothing but a mean - spirited , low - lived fellow . ”
On the other side , Jeffersonians pegged Adams as a “ horrific … character [ with ] neither the military group and resolve of a man , nor the mildness and sensibility of a woman . ” Ouch .
In the end , the husk that break Adams ’s back came when Jefferson engage a professional crisis manager . By 1799 , James Callender had propelled an adultery outrage involving Federalist ikon Alexander Hamilton into the interior limelight . With Jefferson ’s financial backing , he set his sights on a far bigger target : America ’s current president . Through theRichmond Examiner , Callender published “ The Prospect Before Us . ” This vituperative essay maintain that Adams was hell - bended on instituting a monarchy and start a war with France .
“ Such papers can not fail to produce the best gist , ” Jefferson remarked . In this sheath , they did n’t . Aided by Callender ’s negative tactics , Jefferson emerge triumphant .
5. ADAMS REFUSED TO ATTEND JEFFERSON’S INAUGURATION
After Jefferson was sworn in as America ’s third president , he delivered a message of 1 and bipartisanship . Partway through an initiatory address that ’s now remember as one of the greatest ever given , the new Chief Executive asserted “ we are all Republicans : we are all Federalist . ” Meanwhile , the political rival he ’d just bludgeoned was nowhere to be seen . Embittered by the red , Adams skipped the ceremony and left Washington for his native Massachusetts .
6. WHEN JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT, JEFFERSON CONGRATULATED HIS FATHER
A inhume friendship lento generate to full bloom in 1811 . By then , Dr. Benjamin Rush was among the few remaining people with whom both Adams and Jefferson regularly communicated . Another signee of the Declaration of Independence , Rush had long hop to reconcile the two x - President of the United States .
A single , kind input from Adams helped Rush realize his goal . One day in 1810 , the old New Englander confided to a twain of node that “ I always loved Jefferson and still love him . ” get wind this scuttlebutt , bang forwarded it along to Monticello . Jefferson was absolutely beguiled . “ I only needed this noesis to vivify towards [ Adams ] all the affections of the most affable moment of our lives , ” he told Rush .
The next class , Adams and Jefferson get a unexampled correspondence that would include over 150 letter and last until their expiry in 1826 . During this time , the Adams family scored a Brobdingnagian political victory — along with a devastating personal loss . Jefferson weighed in on both . When Abigail Adams pass away in 1818 , the third president soothe her husband . Touched by Jefferson ’s Word , Adams replied , “ I seem to have a Bank at Monticello on which I can describe for a Letter of Friendship and amusement when I please . ”
1825 would bring a happier dispatch . That year , John Quincy Adams win the White House . “ It must stir ineffable feelings in the heart of a beginner , ” Jefferson wrote Adams Sr . , “ to have lived to see a son so eminently distinguished by the voice of his res publica . ”
7. THEY DIED ON THE SAME DAY
Poetically , death take Adams and Jefferson on July 4 , 1826—50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was take in . Down in Virginia , it would appear that Jefferson could n’t facilitate but scuttlebutt on the coincidence . According to several source , his last words were something to the effect of , “ Is this the Fourth ? ”
Adams follow Jefferson into the great beyond . Those relation who waited by his deathbed would go on to account that , before expiring , Adams enjoin “ Thomas Jefferson still survives . ” Adams was mistaken ; Jefferson had passed away several hours before .
CatchJoin or Die with Craig Fergusonthis Thursday , February 25 at 11/10c on HISTORY . For a close look at another heroic rivalry , click here to read whyNikola Tesla and Thomas Edison were actually history ’s bestfrenemies .
