How odd that W and I are reading the same book. I should say allegedly reading for W. At 600+ pages it's a little long for someone accustomed to reading executive summaries, or having executive summaries summarized for him.
An interesting thing about John Quincy Adams is that he had a long post-presidential political career, which I think mainly centered on anti-slavery activity. I really can't see that in W's future. Checking the first google hit, it turns out he died with his figurative boots on.
Unexpectedly, in 1830, the Plymouth district elected him to the House of Representatives, and there for the remainder of his life he served as a powerful leader. Above all, he fought against circumscription of civil liberties.
In 1836 southern Congressmen passed a "gag rule" providing that the House automatically table petitions against slavery. Adams tirelessly fought the rule for eight years until finally he obtained its repeal.
In 1848, he collapsed on the floor of the House from a stroke and was carried to the Speaker's Room, where two days later he died. He was buried--as were his father, mother, and wife--at First Parish Church in Quincy. To the end, "Old Man Eloquent" had fought for what he considered right. http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ja6.html |
