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John Quincy Adams

"Old Man Eloquent"

John Quincy Adams, "Old Man Eloquent" , our sixth president. Historians have not been generous in judging the presidency of Adams. Those who have supported Adams' administration have, at the same time, practically ignored his service in the White House. However, there are critics who have described his administration as a failure, founded upon "bargaining and corruption," and marked the ineffectiveness of its efforts to promote strong Pan-American relationships and the endorsement of the "tariff of abominations." One of the first controversial topics in our history! Quincy is my favorite president because he went from being loved to being looked at as a scandal. He has a great story that explains a lot about how the system can work for you and make you a failure all at once.
John Quincy Adams was no "greenhorn" to politics. He had spent his entire life in the political realm. His father, John Adams (the second US president), was a major influence. A Harvard graduate, John Quincy was educated not only in law, but also in diplomacy. He was an experienced lawyer and statesman long before his running for president in 1824. Adams had already been a big player under President Monroe. He played a large role in the development of the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine warned European nations not to get involve in the affairs of the western hemispheres. With all of his experience, he proceeded towards the presidency after his service as Secretary of State, under President Monroe. His election was an invigorating race against Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and W.H. Crawford. Jackson won the popular vote by a landslide, while Quincy came in second, but Jackson became thirty-two votes short in the Electoral College. Per the twelfth amendment, the House of Representatives voted for whom would become president. Adams won the election by one vote, which was credited to Clay, whom there was accusations of bargaining with Adams' for his...