John Adams Moments of Reflection

 

John Adams

A subject that gives me pain to speak of concerns Alexander Hamilton's mission to destroy my presidency.

Our opposition goes back many years. I was unsure at first that my interest in becoming George Washington’s  successor would be of sufficient strength and support to make it worth my effort and self sacrifice. Hamilton, for reasons that I'll explain later, preferred another candidate—one that he was convinced he could control. My experience in diplomatic circles was rather complete. Had I lost heart, Hamilton might have ended my political interests.

General Greene had introduced Hamilton to Washington. Hamilton, then a young officer, had shown coolness and courage during the disastrous battle of Long Island in protecting the rear from attack. On March 1, 1777, Washington offered Hamilton the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on his staff. In this position Hamilton was to demonstrate exceptional skill in writing the great quantity of correspondence of letters, reports, and proclamations which he was to author. Having the ear and the voice of General Washington was the beginning of Hamilton's power.

When the support of the people and the blessing of George Washington raised me to the presidency, by the slimmest of margins, I must confess, I found myself surrounded by assassins. Jefferson was a disturbing entity as my vice-president, undermining all my decisions.  Hamilton attacked me in A Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq., President of the United States. This fifty-four-page pamphlet was published in New York at the end of October. Nothing that Hamilton ever wrote about Jefferson was half so contemptuous.

He berated me in nearly every way possible—describing my "great intrinsic defects of character," my    "disgusting egotism," weaknesses, vacillations, my "eccentric tendencies," my "bitter animosity" toward my own cabinet. He deplored my handling of relations with France. I shall not go on beyond his calling me all but insane.

You might ask who was this other candidate that Hamilton preferred. Why no other than Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina.

It was during the campaign for vice-president that Hamilton showed his need to manage the outcome. The candidates for Vice President were Aaron Burr of New York and Thomas Jefferson. To add to my troubles, Alexander Hamilton was up to his old tricks behind the scenes, urging the strongest possible support for Thomas Pinckney, ostensibly as a way to keep Jefferson from becoming Vice President. It was also suspected to defeat me as well and make Pinckney president. Pinckney was someone Hamilton could more readily control. This hateful man - Hamilton, was not above the most disgusting behavior. I could not see how General Washington put up with him for so long. 

But Washington was pragmatic. He chose to overlook Hamilton's faults and make use of his abilities. On fiscal matters, he relied on Hamilton's financial ability - a man who was constantly in debt in his personal life. Washington  remembered him from his days of combat and saw Hamilton as a reliable young officer  On his cabinet, Washington got the counsel he wanted and relied on Hamilton's gift for writing. The rumors of Hamilton’s remarks reached me at Quincy and would be confirmed before the year was out by my old friend Elbridge Gerry. For both Abigail and me, Gerry's report marked the end of whatever remaining trust or respect we had for Hamilton. Abigail henceforth referred to him privately as "Cassius." I called him "as great a hypocrite as any in the U.S.