New Year's historical perspective
I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year's Eve. We went dancing and were swinging in the New Year with a whole bunch of others. Biggest New Year's Eve party we've been to in years. Great fun. Tired,for sure, but still a lot of fun.
I am still plowing through the John Adams biography. Just finished the part about the presidential election of 1800, between Adams and Jefferson. It is worth noting, especially considering our recent past elections, that we really didn't see much new as far as extreme partisan campaigning. It is distressing to see a debate on issues get bogged down in name-calling and dire predictions of calamity if the other candidate wins. Yet that is just what happened Adams-Jefferson contest over 200 years ago.
These were two men who both had extensive national and foreign affairs experience. Both were heroes of the Revolution and involved in setting up the whole government (Constitution). One was the current President and the other the sitting Vice-President. Both were well-written and well-spoken. But to partisans on both sides the nation was headed for disaster if the other person won. Two prominent names among the partisans,Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, would go on to ignominious ends. Burr would obtain the office of Vice President, but later be tried for treason. Hamilton would go on to foolishly get into a duel (pistols at paces) with Burr and lose his life.
On the other hand, Jefferson would serve as President and help orchestrate the Louisiana Purchase (from France) that would vastly expand the size of our country. Adams would retire to write and farm, and his eldest son, John Quincy, would end up as our sixth President, though his father would not live to see it happen. In an odd occurrence in our history, both Adams and Jefferson would end up dying not only in the same year (1824) but on the very same day. And one would ask about the other on his death bed.
Both of these men are remembered well in our history, though Jefferson usually gets the greater credit. Both were great contributors to the nation we have today. And to their credit they themselves too little part in the bickering of the election of 1800. But it is wise to remember that passions of elections can get out of hand and we are still one nation and we must all work together for the betterment of all, or we will all suffer the consequences.
Happy New Year everyone! :)
I am still plowing through the John Adams biography. Just finished the part about the presidential election of 1800, between Adams and Jefferson. It is worth noting, especially considering our recent past elections, that we really didn't see much new as far as extreme partisan campaigning. It is distressing to see a debate on issues get bogged down in name-calling and dire predictions of calamity if the other candidate wins. Yet that is just what happened Adams-Jefferson contest over 200 years ago.
These were two men who both had extensive national and foreign affairs experience. Both were heroes of the Revolution and involved in setting up the whole government (Constitution). One was the current President and the other the sitting Vice-President. Both were well-written and well-spoken. But to partisans on both sides the nation was headed for disaster if the other person won. Two prominent names among the partisans,Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, would go on to ignominious ends. Burr would obtain the office of Vice President, but later be tried for treason. Hamilton would go on to foolishly get into a duel (pistols at paces) with Burr and lose his life.
On the other hand, Jefferson would serve as President and help orchestrate the Louisiana Purchase (from France) that would vastly expand the size of our country. Adams would retire to write and farm, and his eldest son, John Quincy, would end up as our sixth President, though his father would not live to see it happen. In an odd occurrence in our history, both Adams and Jefferson would end up dying not only in the same year (1824) but on the very same day. And one would ask about the other on his death bed.
Both of these men are remembered well in our history, though Jefferson usually gets the greater credit. Both were great contributors to the nation we have today. And to their credit they themselves too little part in the bickering of the election of 1800. But it is wise to remember that passions of elections can get out of hand and we are still one nation and we must all work together for the betterment of all, or we will all suffer the consequences.
Happy New Year everyone! :)