the next president who never owned a slave was john quincy adams. it ran in the family, dedication to public service, better than family. also brilliant, he was interested in everything, spoke many languages. he was in many ways he may have had the highest iq, the most versatile mind of anyone including the greats among the founders. as chance would have it he was a one term president and one term presidents don't get the attention the others do. >> host: let me ask about another president. you spoke on the fourth of july of immigration and naturalization cemetery at monticello which is held every fourth of july, thomas jefferson's home, thomas jefferson gave the decree that all men are created equal, he wrote the preamble to the declaration of independence but how do you square that with the fact that he was a slave owner and how did you address the issue? how did he address that issue? he was a slave owner who thought all men were created equal? >> i don't, i can't, i don't understand it nor do i understand the fact that he destroyed every letter

if all the people you'd written about -- john adams, harry truman, john quincy adams, thomas jefferson -- if you could have dinner with any one president who's not alive, who would you like to have dinner with? >> john adams. >> john adams? >> because there are so many questions i want to ask him. >> all right.ns well, okay, let's talk about john adams for a moment. you gave a speech in, at the university of massachusetts. you talked a lot about john adams. of the founding fathers, he gets a little less attention than george washington, thomas jefferson, james madison. why do you think so few people paid that much attention until your book came out, and why do you think there is still no monument to john adams in washington, d.c.? >> yes, there is. >> where? >> it's on the mantlepiece in the white house. >> oh. >> did you know about that? >> i don't.i >> john adams was the first president to reside in the white house. and his first night he was alone, abigail had not arrived w yet, and the next morning after his first night he wrote her a letter in which he said -- well, what he wrote

adams harry truman john quincy adams thomas jefferson if you could have dinner with anyoneonr president not alive who would you like to have dinner with? >> john adams.some q because there are so manyto questions i want to ask him. >> let's talk about john adams for a moment. he gave a speech at the university of massachusetts and you talked a lot about john adams. the founding fathers he would at got less attention than george washington thomas jefferson and james moffitt -- james madison. why do you think so few people paid attention until your book came out of why do you think there is still no monument for john adams in washington d.c.. >> yes, there is. some amount of peace and the white house. you don't know about that? >> i don't. >> john adams was the first president to resign in the white house. his first night he was alone. abigail had not arrived yet and his first morning after his first night he wrote her a letter in which he said, what he wrote in the letter franklin roosevelt had carved into the wooden part of the mantelpiece in the east room in the state dining room. when

tool is fallback when klay threw in his lot with john quincy adams that jackson won the plurality of votes to say he is the edges of the west is and will be the same. not exactly the audacity of pope type of mauna. thatghter] that largely drought of the of bible with a brave card needs consents and the other but it is a much noted that the letters of lord chesterfield that he wrote a manners' guide and most importantly and there is only one president but there is a new age of jackson but into always control way you feel and project for you feel the matter what is going on inside this was a critical element in his ride to have that compassionate temperamental man to be the master of the passion he did i get to be the president and the united states with his background to have that record this just doesn't happen that way and then to turn it into a strength and then to say they were wrongewed and then to have this visiondood but then jackson turned to visit a to say didn't die manage him well? [laughter] he knew exactly was doing. day river that "saturday night live" skit? so it is of

like daniel webster and clay and john quincy adams. understandably to some extent. this was -- jackson was someone they couldn't control. everybody else had been sort of from the same club. that's not say jackson was -- i think he was far more sophisticated figure than people give him credit for but it was in his political interest for people to believe he was actually somewhat rough around the edges. no one could be more elegant when he wanted to be. when louise livingston had a ball around the battle of new orleans, there was all this terror that andrew jackson was coming and all the ladies were very worried. he came through, swept through, and one of the ladies who had been terrified came up to her and said that's your back woodsman and he is a prince. her could play either role and i think that unfortunately the white house story has come down to as the madness of democracy and the common man running amok. but you can't be for -- can't be against the common man running amok and then be for democracy. sort of comes together. like one man's pork is another man's s

the next president who never owned a slave was their son john quincy adams, if she ever did say anything, and her actions as they do speak louder than words. >> host: would you agree with jeanette she was a so-called liberal? >> guest: i don't think she was a liberal, i think she was a puritan. the puritans were adamantly for education, most of them against slavery. and adamantly for freedom of religion and for opportunity and they weren't a bunch of stiffnecked unemotional people as they are often portrayed. in many respects the puritan tradition this where a part of the bedrock superstructure of our country and our way of life. abigail adams was one of the bravest women of her time, as an ambassador in europe, her oldest son was also gone. she minded this home, my did the farm and one of the best writers of anybody. her letters are phenomenal, one of the most admirable women not just women, extraordinary formative time. >> host: bob calling from pennsylvania. >> caller: good afternoon, a pleasure to ask you a question. i enjoy your writing and your speaking very much. can you describe

the next president who never owned a slave was their son, john quincy adams. if she ever did say anything like you are talking about, that was something i'm not aware of but her actions, as they do, speak louder than words. >> host: would you agree that she was the so-called liberal for her time? >> guest: i don't think she was a liberal, i think she was a puritan and the puritans were adamantly for education, most of them against slavery, adamantly for freedom of religion, and opportunity and not a bunch of stiffnecked, unemotional people as they are often portrayed. in many respects the puritan traditions were a part of the bedrock superstructure of our country and our way of life. .. and our way of life. abigail adams was one of the bravest women of her time, as an ambassador in europe, her oldest son was also gone. she minded this home, my did the farm and one of the best writers of anybody. her letters are phenomenal, one of the most admirable women the formative time. bob is calling in from easton pennsylvania. good afternoon bob. it's a pleasure to ask

and it was the next president who had never owned a slave was their son, john quincy adams. so, if she ever did say anything like you're talking about, thatt was something i'm not aware of but her actions often, as they do, speak he had louder than words. >> host: would you agree with jenette she was a so-called liberal for her time? w >> guest: well, no, i don'tan think she was a liberal. she was a puritan. the puritans adamantly for education. most of them against slavery and adequately for freedom of religion and, or opportunity and they weren't a bunch of stiff-necked, unemotional people as they're often portrayed an in many respects the puritan traditions were a part of the bedrock super structure of our country and our way of life. and abigail adams was one of the bravest women of her time. she looked after her family while her husband was away as an ambassador in europe. and her oldest son was also gone. she-minded the home. she-minded the farm. she kept them going in their absence. one of the best writers of that era than anybody. her letters are phenomenal. to me sh

quincy adams, on jane addams, all of whom had significant travel experience before they embark on their career. in the case of john, he found his career through his travel. and he kept as many of the others did journals of his experience. so it gave me insight was happening inside his head as he traveled that thousand miles. this was a life shaping experience for him. it really gave him focus and direction as a young adult, that meant the changing of history. so for me that was just a bonus opportunity. called "restless fire", first 11 years of his life he lived in scotland which is on the southern side of that, opposite edinborough. it was a small scottish town, seaport town. there was an old castle he played in. there were lots and lots of cliffs and plenty of birds nests, which he discovered. his father had a dim view of his wanderings with the village boys pick you wanted to confined to the garden in the backyard, but john had little interest in that. it was also a place where he received his education. he attended school and he memorized through his fathers influence, especially af

he was the son of president lincoln's ambassador to britain, charles francis adams, and a to john quincy adams and great-grandson to john adams. adams font at antietam -- fought at antietam and gettysburg. he would assume temporary command of the regiment. with the fall of petersburg on april 2 18 65, robert e. lee e lee and the army of northern virginia retreated to appomattox, virginia. with the evacuation of richmond troops,federate the city became a scene of looting and a fiery inferno. the fifth massachusetts was sent from point lookout, in march, back to petersburg, and they would make the final assault into richmond. men of theles tb fifth massachusetts recalled what he witnessed upon entering the city. going to the city we passed thousands of citizens, colored and white, who cheered us as we rode through the seat, recalling this is certainly a city of hills. there are many fine buildings and nice-looking colored people here. wey shouted, god bless you, have been waiting for you and looking for you a long time. " -- sally brock, a resident, stated, long lines of negro cavalry swep

he was the son of president lincoln's ambassador to britain, charles francis adams, and a to john quincy adams and great-grandson to john adams. adams fought at antietam and gettysburg. he would assume temporary command of the regiment. with the fall of petersburg on april 2 18 65, robert e. lee e lee and the army of northern virginia retreated to appomattox, virginia. with the evacuation of richmond by a confederate troops, the city became a scene of looting and a fiery inferno. the fifth massachusetts was sent from point lookout, in march, back to petersburg, and they would make the final assault into richmond. rupaul charles tb men of the fifth massachusetts recalled what he witnessed upon entering the city. " going to the city we passed thousands of citizens, colored and white, who cheered us as we rode through the seat, recalling this is certainly a city of hills. there are many fine buildings and nice-looking colored people here. they shouted, god bless you, we have been waiting for you and looking for you a long time." -- sally brock, a resident, stated, long lines of negro cavalr

quincy adams' household conducted a school for girls. instructed pupils at the free catholic colored school. , john union seminary cook's pupils divided into a male and female department studied multiple subjects including math and anatomy. , children. at most a sound elementary education. public sentiment was against the school's existence. washington was considered slave territory as far as public sentiment toward the practice was concerned. on december 3, 1850 one, around the site of this photo, myrtilla opened her school for the first time in washington. it was a 14 square-foot room and a wood framed house. she started with six people. by the end of the month that increase to 15 people. that number held steady for the next two years as they move locations three times because of threats and harassment. during that time she also struggled. in a letter to her friend she and complained about her daily work which included teaching and advocating for her students and raising money for a permanent location for her school. out this 42seeking

john quincy adams and john adams' papers are at the nasa chooses historical society -- massachusetts historical society, and another state has rutherford b. hayes and others. we have the most significant collection of papers in one place. more treasures can be found in these papers. this is a copy of the dunlap broadside inside the washington papers. it is technically a fragment because you see the bottom -- the dunlap broadside was the first printing of the american copies orn, about 100 so were done and sent to different colonies are they sent one to king george the third. i guess they wanted him to read it. this will have their copy in england. -- they still have their copy in england. there are 200 today. one went on the market a few years back and sold for over $1 million, so it can get you an idea. this is washington's personal copy. john hancock, the president of the continental congress, since washington this copy -- sent washington this copy and asked him to read it to the troops. they were in new york, and he did. washington had it read for the troops, and they got so excit

john quincy adams and john adams' papers are at the massachusetts historical society and the ohio historical society has rutherford b. hayes and others. we have the most significant collection of papers in one place. more treasures can be found in these papers. this is a copy of the dunlap broadside inside the washington papers. it is technically a fragment because you see the bottom -- -- the bottom has been cut off. the dunlap broadside was the first printing of the american declaration, about 100 copies or so were done and sent to different colonies are they sent one to king george iii. i guess they wanted him to read it. they still have their copy in england. there are 200 today. one went on the market a few years back and sold for over $1 million, so it can get you an idea. this is washington's personal copy. john hancock, the president of the continental congress, sent washington this copy and asked him to read it to the troops. they were in new york, and he did. washington had it read for the troops, and they got so excited and wound up about it, they went down to the bottom of new yo

the next president who never owned a slave was john quincy adams. so it ran in the family. as a dedication to public service. he's also brilliant he was interested in everything. he spoke many languages. he was in many ways i think you have the highest iq that anybody who have been president including the greats among the founders. as chance would have it he was only a one term president and they don't get the attention that the others do. let me ask about another president you have talked about. you spoke on the fourth of july in immigration said ceremony monticello. it is held every fourth of july. thomas jefferson gave us the creed that all men are created equal that he wrote in the preamble to the declaration of independence. how do you square that with the fact that he was a slave owner. and how did you think he address that. i don't. i can't. i don't understand it. nor do i understand the fact that he destroyed every letter he ever wrote to his wife and every letter she ever wrote to him. we don't even know what she looked like. i can understand that that he kept very

quincy adams' household conducted a school for girls. white teachers instructed pupils at the free catholic colored school. at the union seminary, john cook's pupils divided into a male and female department studied multiple subjects including math and anatomy. probably here, children got at most a sound elementary education. public sentiment was against the school's existence. washington was considered slave territory as far as public sentiment toward the practice was concerned. on december 3, 1851, around the site of this photo, myrtilla opened her school for the first time in washington. it was a 14 square-foot room in a wood framed house. she started with six people. by the end of the first month that had increased to 15. by the second month that number held steady for the next two years as they move locations three times because of threats and harassment. during that time she also struggled. in a letter to her friend she described and complained about her daily work which included teaching and advocating for her students and raising

in the distance was a portrait of john quincy adams. evidently, the reflection of the light on adams' bald countenance distracted and irritated coolidge. at the end of the meal, and without explanation, coolidge ordered a servant to bring in a step ladder and rag. coolidge took the rack to the fireplace, rubbed it in ashes, placed the step ladder under the painting, climbed up, and rubbed ashes on adams' shining head . no more glare. ado, coolidgeer d i turned to hoover instantly said, good night. [laughter] dr. nash: for all of the evidence that the hyperactive secretary of commerce was a valued member of the coolidge administration, in late 1925 and 1926, signs multiplied that hoover was becoming disenchanted. one source of his anxiety was growing speculation in the stock market and real estate, trends that were fueled in his opinion by the easy money policies of the federal reserve board. unwilling because of his cabinet status to intervene directly with the fed, hoover persuaded a close ally, a senator, to address a set of sharp inq

i have done previous work on frederick douglass, john quincy adams, jane addams, all of whom had significant travel experience before they embarked in their careers. in the case of john, he found his career through travel. he kept, as many of the others did, journals of his experience. it gave me insight as to what was happening in his head as he traveled a thousand miles. this was a life shaping experience for him. it really gave him focus and direction as a young adult that meant the changing of history. for me, that was just a bonus opportunity. fires."lled "restless lifeirst 11 years of his he lived in dunbar, scotland, which is on the southern side, opposite of edinburgh. it was a small scottish seaport town. there is an old castle he played in. there were lots and lots of ffs and lots of birds nests. his father had a dim view of his wanderings with village voice. he wanted to confine him to the garden in the backyard but john had little interest in that. it was also a place where he received his education. school, and he memorized through his father's influence, especially after he lef

quincy adam's biography. there's this chapter where john adam, his father, says it's not sufficient for him to read aristotle and plato in english. he's got to go learn the classics. i was thinking to myself, what has happened to american politics? from the time -- i mean, it was thinkers who really founded this country. it's amazing their level -- they were so proud of their education. they were so proud to have been well read. and thoughtful. i respect pollsters. if our consultants had gotten their hands on his 2004 democratic convention speech, it wouldn't have been a great speech. part of what made it extraordinary is he actually had intelligence thin law enforcement thin intelligent things to say. i don't think we have to shy away from thoughtful conversation or complicated sentences. i think that's very different than showing respect. it can't be one of not showing up or condescension or some sense of "i'm better than you." i think we have to do a better job of showing up. then being authentic. i do bel