John Quincy Adams: American Visionary

About this book

Fred Kaplan the acclaimed award-winning author of Lincoln returns with John Quincy Adams an illuminating biography of one of the most overlooked presidents in American historya leader of sweeping perspective whose progressive values helped shape the course of the nation. In this fresh and lively biography rich in literary analysis and new historical detail Fred Kaplan brings into focus the dramatic life of John Quincy Adamsthe little known and much misunderstood sixth president of the United States and the first son of John and Abigail Adamsand persuasively demonstrates how Adamss inspiring progressive vision guided his life and helped shape the course of America. Kaplan draws on a trove of unpublished archival material to trace Adamss evolution from his childhood during the Revolutionary War to his brilliant years as Secretary of State to his time in the White House and beyond. He examines Adamss myriad sides: the public and private man the statesman and writer the wise thinker and passionate advocate the leading abolitionist and fervent federalist who believed strongly in both individual liberty and the governments role as an engine of progress and prosperity. In these waysand in his energy empathy sharp intellect and powerful gift with words both spoken and writtenhe was a predecessor of Lincoln and later FDR and Obama. Indeed this sweeping biography makes clear how Adamss forward-thinking values his definition of leadership and his vision for the nations future is as much about twenty-first century America as it is about Adamss own time. Meticulously researched and masterfully written John Quincy Adams paints a rich portrait of this brilliant leader and his significance to the nation and our own lives.