The Letters of Adams and Jefferson

[awakened2ug]

Jefferson in all his years of correspondence as President and the years after his presidency, kept all the letters he wrote and would make duplicates of those letters. The device seen was in essence a copying tool, which made a duplicate of the letter he was writing. Jefferson wrote thousands of letters, and this device saved him an immense amout of time.

[ASamson123]

what is that writing tool Jefferson uses 1:00- 1:17?

[snipetracker]

While I enjoyed this series, and I appreciated how they were keen on production details, for some reason the chronology was rather poor. The footsteps that you hear just before the sequence begins are those of Benjamin Rush, suggesting to Adams to pick up the pen and reconcile with Jefferson. However, Abigail died some years after Adams and Jefferson commenced their great correspondence, and his daughter died a year after the correspondence began as well.

[TheIcelandicPatriot]

One man once said. We seem to have reached the age where life stops giving us things and starts taking them away.

[bpvogel]

When my wife passed away 5 yrs ago at the very young age of 36 yrs old, I would read Thomas Jefferson's heartfelt and beautifully written condolence letter to John Adams to help me put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

It is the same letter narrated in this video, but so much more impactful when read than listened to. It is too long to post as a comment, but can be found here:

ww-dot-familytales-dot-org-sla­sh-dbDisplay.php?id=ltr_thj170­0&collection=9

[fdny9682]

@bpvogel dude thats an amazng post

[soulcamille]

@bpvogel awwww. sorry about your loss.

[limbdarkening]

The world will never forget you John Adams, don't worry!

[tmccart3]

1 person is a heartless unappreciative communist.

[mgwilliams1000]

HBO seems to come up with best of these series. Amazing and so ironic these two men died within hours of each other.... and on the 50th anniversery of their Declaration.

[The85thoma]

any one knows what this music under the scene?

[ProtestantIRA]

Interesting writing tool Jefferson had.

[TGoodman]

@ProtestantIRA

That's called a polygraph. I can't provide the wikipedia link, but if you search for the duplicating device polygraph, you'll find it.

[isabellaemilybrown]

It was so sad when Nabby died D':

[BrOkEnCyDebitchh]

Whatever happend to this type of government? Why cant our government go back to being One for all, then All for one? sigh

[tmccart3]

@BrOkEnCyDebitchh Um... that's the three musketeers.



[BrOkEnCyDebitchh]

@tmccart3 i fucking love them, :P

[Irishrose2966]

wow! Abigail and John Adams were married for 54 years! that's amazing, especially in their time when women young and older died of disease and child-bearing.

[tainorebelde1]

My Dear Friends...let us be the Generation that DECIDED to preserve our Great Liberties.

[inkstersco]

The only visual flaw in this whole series is Adams Jnr's old guy makeup.

Eyes too young.

[livinglegend01]

If only modern society was able to forgive one another and hold a sense of dignity about it as well. Sadly people are unaware of either or because they have neither sense for forgiveness nor any dignity - only pride.

God knows how brittle pride makes relationships between people.

[RushLimborg]

Wow. Such a beautiful sequence, capturing perfectly one of the greatest exchanges in history.

Still...I wish the writers had put in here their discussion about the fact that, one day, the American Experiment WOULD seem to fail (as it seems now)--and how Jefferson reassures Adams, that, when that happens, the people would rebuild from the rubble, learn from their mistakes, and restore America to its former glory.

I believe, as many others do...that that day is coming soon.

[sandythebear]

Quite the guys!!!! great gentlemen.

[Mistahyu]

Whoops pardon my grammar, I meant to say Two "of" our Great

[Mistahyu]

My eyes welled up at this segment. Two our Great men, noble and selfless in nature, once bitter rivals, made up with each other.

Our beautiful Nation has gone astray in the past 10 years. Our failure to uphold and read our beautifully written document known as the Constitution has caused endless wars, animosity, and corruption within our government.

Jefferson and Adams would be turning in their graves for what America is now today.

[DirectingJack]

It always freaks me out how these two titans of history & American independence - one-time rivals and long time friends - died on exactly the same date: 4 July 1826, Golden anniversary of Independence.

John Adams, the oldest President to hold the office (until number 40, Ronald Reagan) and longest surviving of all the Founding Fathers.

[maureenOWW]

@DirectingJack 'two titans of history' - well, american history. Outside of the US they are basically unknown. In europe neither of them would be known to 99% of the population, even in france. In Britain, jefferson would be known by some as the 'writer of the declaration of independence', but for nothing else. Adams would be unknown to 99% of the continent - apart from those in the UK who have watched John Adams, of course. Outside of europe the figure drops to basically nil.

[DirectingJack]

@maureenOWW

Oh come now! I think (or rather, hope!) you're doing them a slight disservice. I'd rather hope that their legacy would be better remembered than that considering the role they played in the improbable experiment of American democracy. Blowing in the wind?!

[maureenOWW]

@DirectingJack Unfortunately it's not remembered, the figures I gave are accurate. What was improbable about american democracy, out of interest?

[melarry]

@maureenOWW Please -- they were titans of our history, which is all that matters in that the film is about US history. Beyond which fact, I have many European friends who are well-versed in the American revolution and its people. Unfortunately, John Adams has been downplayed until recently, but this movie has changed that.

[BigBob76331]

@DirectingJack The last surviving Founding Fathers was in fact the only Roman catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; Charles Carroll of Carrolton (Maryland) who died in 1832

[TortoiseWayfarers]

I am glad that these two finally kissed and made up towards the end of their lives. Adams and Jefferson were huge political rivals during the first years of our Republic. Mainly by different ideologies, Adams was a Federalist and Jefferson favored a less centralized government tempered by the preservation of the states rights.

They were towering figures in their day and we should never forget then, but honor them.

[girlygoalie]

The ignorance and pettiness of men, reflected in their inability to hold to a conspiracy, even with a few powerful men, (let alone men threatened with death if that conspiracy is not confessed) is the greatest argument for the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

[roblynchjr]

If only they had been able to sit down together one last time. We take that sort of thing for granted now. Hopefully in the afterlife they were able to embrace and realize how important they were for the rest of us. God bless John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

[roblynchjr]

Two of the best men the world has ever seen.

[hauntedmythcaves]

One of the most moving scenes in the film.

[TheNagle1987]

"I prefer to look back on those days when Massachusetts and Virginia lived and acted together in perfect harmony." - Thomas Jefferson.

Well spoken, sir. Well spoken.

[meltz911]

Paul G was so good in this,

[googlexxxxxxx]

The North and South poles of the American revolution.

[rocketman544]

Love the violin solo at 2:02...the music in this series is phenomenal.

[GusF]

Does anyone know when was the last time Adams and Jefferson met in person?

[MBrando2404]

I would say after jefferson beat adams. adams left DC the moring when jefferson was going to take office.

[PrayerWarrior4]

such a pair of men....

first they are firends,

then enemies,

then good friends again! heehee

these two men were amazing men...

sometimes the best friendships, are the ones you servive quarrels with...

[davidiss1]

I love the music

and they did such a great job on this scene

my favourate one

[ChurchillTea]

I don't envision Adams being so grouchy all the time. They show him being upset with his kids too...and I just dont' get that impression from his letters. In one letter he talks to Abigail about his "lovely babes"..and there are other comments like that in his letters to her

[ChurchillTea]

Dr. Benjamin Rush had been trying to get these two to resolve their differences. He wrote to Adams about a dream he had It's our history....it's worth reading.

If it were not for Benjamen Rush and a dream he wrote to Adams aboout that involved both Adams and Jefferson, they might never have reconciled.

[michaelandcarina]

Dear Jefferson, you contradiction of a man. My obsession with your life, your ideals, and mystery will never end. I am happy you did not live long enough to see the Republic thrown away to imperial dogs.

[wolfborn10]

I love this scene. One of my favorites from the series!

[krisjj21]

GREAT

[Thrice13]

This part of the movie made me cry

[wolf8503]

they could not have picked a better actor for John Adams...they need to do another mini series on Washington and Lincoln !

[smo699]

No need on Lincoln's part. Spielberg is in the works on using the "Team of Rivals" novel as a basis for his film, "Lincoln."

[generis85]

I love Jefferson's very gracious tribute to John Quincy's election near the end, and the way John Quincy is tearing up...

"Yes indeed...Yes indeed."

[maige123]

jefferson used to use his left hand to write?

i think there is a scene in which he used his right hand painting ?

[TGoodman]

Interesting you would note that. I was just observing it myself.

No. Jefferson was right-handed. I believe Stephen Dillane is left-handed.

While in Paris, Jefferson began courting a woman, Maria Cosway, who was from England.

He fractured his right wrist fencing,and wrote her at least one letter with his left hand...its amazingly legible, but he was right-handed.

[Goatboy667]

That's correct. The fracture never healed properly and as he grow older his right wrist became increasingly stiff. He could only write with it for a little while. Because of that he taught him self to write with his left hand. Many of the letters he sent to adams would have been written with his left hand.

[michaelandcarina]

Good for you for knowing your history so well! :D

[wcottee]

The part where Jefferson ends his letter to Adams , " your friend Thomas Jefferson" is very powerful.

[SweeneyToddFan12]

i wonder if these letters were real. probably so. amazing how they both died on the 4th of July. only i think Jefferson died in the morning and John died in the late afternoon.

[pjairen]

the letters are very real...you can search them and find a few of them online...they actually started a bit before they indicated here...it was more dramatic the way they did it here.

[ssfreeman29]

It's wonderful that Jefferson and Adams were able to rekindle their friendship in their twilight years.

[olentangy74]

The elequence and heart these men expressed themselves with is so wonderful. The words that Jefferson comforted Adams with about the loss of Abigail, brings tears to my eyes.

[MBrando2404]

I have this book called The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams its amazing and I love it. Its all the letters they whote to eachother and is simple maye the best book I read about two of our founder fathers 5 Stars! Thanks for posted this I love this mini seris they did and I am reading John Adams now.

[GusF]

I might try to get my hands on that book. I find both of them fascinating, especially Jefferson.

[MBrando2404]

Oh yes I loved it two great minds who brought birth to this great nation. I always say john adams had the voice and jefferson had the words.

[EverythingAustin]

You also might try "Adams and Jefferson: Posterity Must Judge". Its an older read by a historian in the 60's but it has some good excerpts from their letters and written works.

[smoky90210]

What has happened to our nation?I am ashamed that in 8 years these wisemens words were almost entirely tarnished.But I am proud to see the American spirit be reborn.The America I knew as a child.

[Salford999Red]

Make that 9 :(

[ccastro44]

Thanks this is just a beautiful correspondence between to of the greatest minds we seem to talk for granted.

[mynyms]

We need Thomas Jefferson now more than ever. God Bless him and John Adams!

[dcn8933]

@mynyms We need all of them George, John, Tom, James Madison, James Monroe, and perhaps even John Quincy.

[billyguns2]

Oh yes, don't exclude John Quincy; there was never a more ardent champion of freedom and human rights. I think that it has been mostly downhill for America after the first six presidents, in spite a few bright lights. Woodrow Wilson was the father of our ruin, and the death blow came when the evil tyrants now in control murdered John F. Kennedy.

[maureenOWW]

@billyguns2 'when the evil tyrants now in control murdered John F. Kennedy. ' no, that was Lee Harvey Oswald.

[billyguns2]

@maureenOWW Do you still believe that lie? are you aware that a 1970s House committee investigating JFK's murder concluded that there was probably more than one shooter? Do you really believe that a "magic" pristine bullet could have defied physics and did all the Warren Commission said it was supposed to do? Do you just naively believe everything your government tells you, even in the face of so manyt lies thay have given us? Evil flourishes when ignorance prevails.

[maureenOWW]

@billyguns2 billy billy billy. I did, once, believe in the JFK conspiracy theories. I had all the books, watched all the documentaries etc etc. Then I did some of my own research, and discovered that what was in those books is just nonsense. It is outright lies, insinuation, and heresay. Jim Garrison was a mentally ill individual who sought fame and notoriety. I suggest you read one of many books about the various conspiracy delusions such as Aaronovitchs 'Voodoo History'.

[maureenOWW]

@billyguns2 YOU are the one being duped, billy, by those writing the books and videos you so eagerly devour. It is in their interests to spread lies and foster discontent, as that is how they make their money. 9/11 has made these scumbags millions of dollars. To make money out of JFKs death is one thing, to use 3000 death civilians to make a quick book is pure evil. For example Alex Jones is merely a grubby talentless little bottom-feeder who knows that most of what he says is not true. Grow up.

[billyguns2]

@maureenOWW I notice you ddi not anser any of my questions, typical of a head in the sand approach to living; I suppose ignorance is bliss after all. You probably believe there were weapons of mas destruction and that VietNam was caused by the Gulf of Tonkin non-event, as well as all of the many factual lies and distortions told to us to keep us in line. Are you happy with the current state of affairs? I'm a happy man, but am also awake. I don't listen to Alex Jones by the way.

[maureenOWW]

@billyguns2 I answered your questions 15 years ago, you can do the same with a little effort. I'm nto gonig to waste my time trying to convince you, it's impossible. You'll have to find out for yourself. This isn't about facts, in the end, it's about your inbuilt credulity, your lack of knowledge of how the world (and people) actually work, and you inability to reason in a logical manner.

[billyguns2]

@maureenOWW I haven't been on YouTube for fifteen years. YOU are the one with inbuilt credulity, and if people really are monsters who kill each other in order to survive I want no part of it; it's how the world and people actually work that seems extremely unreasonable and illogical. I AM open to learning, but you offer nothing except blanket statements which would suggest that I swallow everything I am told by higher authority; please, TELL ME how the world and people work.

[maureenOWW]

@billyguns2 I meant I had answered them for myself 15 years ago. Here is the most important things I can tell you about people; in general, they are stupid and ignorant. Secondly, they can't keep secrets; they gossip, even when in fear of their life. Lastly, they make mistakes all the time, both big and small. Politicians and the military have all these flaws, plus arrogance. They are the very worst people to try and run a conspiracy, they are no good at it. Look at watergate or iraq.

[maureenOWW]

@billyguns2 In terms of JFK conspiracy, the 'evidence' you currently believe was essentially invented by one man, Jim Garrison. In the Roswell incident (and YES, the two conspiracies are equally absurd) that man is Stanton Friedman. There is lways one person who stirs it up, puts forth 'facts', and reaps the rewards. They are they quoted ad infinitum, as if their evidence is beyond question. When you argue from flawed evidence, all your arguments are flawed. Don't waste your time on this tripe.

[billyguns2]

@maureenOWW Would you agree that the United States government has ALSO offered us "flawed evidence?"

[maureenOWW]

@billyguns2 Yes, of course they did. But this was through ignorance (and trying to cover up their mistakes) rather than trying to cover up a murder. Watergate is the best example of how conspiracies fail; less than a dozen people knew about it, protected by the most powerful man on earth - and how long did it take to fall apart? Two days. And the president lost his job. And that was just a robbery. So the murder of JFK, in a conspiracy of (at least) hundreds, could never happen.

[billyguns2]

@maureenOWW Thank you for your logical, informative, and civilized response, which has given me something on which to ponder.

[maureenOWW]

@billyguns2 Statistically, the info would get out, and very quickly. Do we have a single confirmed deathbed confession? No. A single piece of written evidence implacating the govenrmnet in his death? No. We have nothing. Compare to Iraq WMD. We have mountains of evidence, and it is easily found. People have come forward in droves, from many political parties and nations. The larger a conspiracy, the more likely it is to fail. This is statistical fact. People talk, facts get out, we would know.

[wyjioc]

@dcn8933 We wouldn't recognize their modern equivalents in integrity if we saw them.

[Blademaster865]

@mynyms Ron Paul 2012!

[Odstx17]

@mynyms im sorry we need John Adams now more then ever.

[sfafasfasfsa]

@mynyms we need all of them. honestly look at the men in the first cabinet Jefferson and Hamilton both great men honorable and thoughtful. george washington at the head with john adams as VP wow.... just amazing. Washington had only a slightly better then normal IQ but listened to both sides and surrounded himself with great men

[burke249]

THANK YOU!