John Adams’ speech before the Continental Congress on Freedom (and the reading of The Declaration of Independence)
John Adams knew that his role in the founding of the republic might someday be forgotten. In the HBO miniseries John Adams, he ruefully confesses his fear to Ben Franklin:
I won’t be in the history books anyway, only you. Franklin did this and Franklin did that and Franklin did some other damn thing. Franklin smote the ground and out sprang George Washington, fully grown and on his horse. Franklin then electrified him with his miraculous lightning rod and the three of them — Franklin, Washington, and the horse — conducted the entire revolution by themselves.
But the truth is that, when the outcome of the debate for declaring independence still hung in doubt, it was Adams who moved the Continental Congress in the direction of freedom.
This excerpt from the movie captures that moment (followed by a depiction of the first reading of the Declaration of Independence).
I see a new nation ready to take it’s place in the world. Not an empire but a republic — and a republic of laws, not men…
How few of the human race have ever had an opportunity of choosing a system of government for themselves and their children…
My judgment approves this measure and my whole heart is in it. All that I have and all that I am and all that I hope in this life I am now ready to stake upon it.
While I live, let me have a country. A free country!
Happy July 4th and may we keep this Republic we have been given — a republic of laws, not men.
He identified the biggest problem the Republic would face even before they began debate on independence:
“One useless man is a disgrace. Two become a law firm. And three, or more, become a Congress.”
My memory of your Adams’ quote to Franklin is from the musical ‘1776!’ Mine is the opening line of the play. He wrote so much back home to Abigale their letters still stand as one of the best chronicles of the politics of the revolution. No doubt that’s why his version of that summer formed the basis for the mini-series, a Broadway musical (later made into a movie) and a major motion picture. (Bonus trivia quiz. Without Google, can you name the actor who stared as John Adams in the mini-series, Tony Award winning musical 1776!, and reprised his role in the musical in the Hollywood film?)
George Grizzard?
[checks]
Dang! William Daniels.
BTW, the PBS miniseries was outstanding.
…and, yes, it was Grizzard who starred as John Adams in PBS’ “The Adams Chronicles.”
For the record, I googled that.
Oh, Okay, make that two mini-series. I didn’t see the PBS one. I remember Daniels in The Adams Chronicles. He’s played John, John Quincy and Samuel.
My daughter Elizabeth was “this” close to being named Samantha so we could call her Sam Adams