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John Adams & the Gipper — Conservative Revolutionaries

Posted by GayPatriotWest at 4:30 am - December 30, 2005.
Filed under: American History,Great Americans,Ronald Reagan

Perhaps it was seeing 1776* in fourth grade that has made me such a fan of John Adams. I was delighted when David McCullough’s biography of this great man quickly climbed to the top of the bestseller charts when it was released in 2001. (I highly recommend the book.)

Yesterday, while listening to the Barnes & Noble “Portable Professor course,” Patriots: Brotherhood of the American Revolution, I heard Professor Joseph J. Ellis (author of Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation) describe the man who would become America’s second president as a revolutionary in a conservative sense. I like that description of this great patriot — conservative revolutionary.

Such a term shows how one of Adams’ greatest successors as president was following in his footsteps when he launched what others called the Reagan Revolution upon his election in 1980. Ronald Reagan, our nation’s fortieth president, just his Eighteenth Century predecessor, was also a conservative revolutionary. And just like many other proud Americans, we gay patriots look to these great men for inspiration.

-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

*A movie musical about the writing/adoption of the Declaration of Independence–what better show for a budding gay patriot!

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6 Comments

  1. Sadly, a lot of people don’t know much about John Adams, and that’s a shame. He was a true Federalist both in name and deed, and was also Washington’s veep. Although Washington never claimed any political party, you could tell from his choice of VP that he wanted to show the nation where his loyalties lay. Adams was also an emissary to France and helped secure French support for the burgeoning revolution.

    John’s wife Abigail could also be construed as being a conservative revolutionary – she was one of the first female voters in the pre-revolutionary Commonwealth of Massachusetts (since she owned chattel) and a very well-read daughter of a minister. It was she who penned this elegy to her husband after she herself tabulated all the electoral votes in the nation’s second election – and I recited it on election night 2004 at a gathering of friends:

    “The sun in all its beams
    is decked out in glory.
    You have this day to declare yourself
    head of a nation.”

    Regards,
    Peter Hughes

    Comment by Peter Hughes — December 30, 2005 @ 11:31 am - December 30, 2005

  2. Adams was always a little miffed that Jefferson got so much credit for writing the DOI, yet he (Adams) was overlooked for his efforts that convinced the Continental Congress to declare Indepenence in the first place. His auditory skills, which were certainly equal to Jeffersons fine penmanship, were key in convincing the undecided deligates that declaring independence was indeed the only option left for the colonists to take. In fact, he thought that July 2nd would be the day that we celebrate independence as that was the day that the Continental Congress of 1776 finally commited to take that path.

    Along the same lines, I often wonder how history will remember GW. I see perhaps a Trumanesque path, where he is not respected much as he leaves office, but gains prominence and respect as the years go by. Lincoln’s legacy followed a simmilar path, and look at all the “civil rights” he either ignored or suspended in order to fight a war.

    Comment by sonicfrog — December 30, 2005 @ 6:47 pm - December 30, 2005

  3. Sonic, you may be right. I think history may see W as a Truman. But, I think the MSM “crusade” against him will help bolster his ratings.

    Comment by GayPatriotWest — December 30, 2005 @ 7:22 pm - December 30, 2005

  4. I just finished reading about the early years of Elizabeth I in an incredible book by Phillippa Gregory entitled “The Virgin’s Lover.” I was astounded at what she faced – a divided nation (Protestant vs Catholic), the perception at home and abroad that she was a weak, illegitimate leader surrounded by “brilliant” advisors like William Cecil and Robert Dudley, and there were constant plots to have her either assassinated or removed from the throne. Yet she remains today as one of the strongest and most popular monarchs in British history.

    I saw so many parallels between her and the president that I was dumbfounded. I believe that in the upcoming generations, GWB will be remembered as one of the greater presidents. I mean, it’s been 25 years since Reagan was sworn in, and he is identified and eulogized as one of the greatest presidents we ever had.

    Just remember – history writes itself in its own good time. I knew when I was 12 and Reagan was inaugurated that America was on the road to glory regained. I think I was right then, and I think I am right now.

    Regards,
    Peter Hughes

    Comment by Peter Hughes — December 31, 2005 @ 11:24 am - December 31, 2005

  5. Fourth grade?

    Somebody get me my walker, please …

    Comment by rightwingprof — January 2, 2006 @ 4:11 pm - January 2, 2006

  6. Great blog. Found your blog while searching for more information at yahoo about online grade book . Your blog has quite a lot of interesting thoughts. Keep up the good work.

    Comment by online grade book — February 21, 2006 @ 12:44 pm - February 21, 2006

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