“Because power corrupts, society’s demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.” — U.S. President John Adams. 

Did you know that President John Adams (second president of the USA) and his son, President John Quincy Adams (6th President), were the only two of the first 18 Presidents of the USA who did not enslave people? John Adams, whom I am talking about today, famously said that the “American Revolution would not be complete until all slaves were free.” Both he and his wife, Abigail Adams, were very opposed to slavery. 

John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 (some sources say the 19th) in Braintree, Mass. Bay, British America (now Quincy), and passed on July 4, 1826, in Quincy, Mass. He was the second President of the USA, one of the USA’s Founding Fathers, an attorney, diplomat, writer, and statesman, and the first President to reside in the famous White House. 

He advocated for everyone to have the right to counsel and to be presumed innocent. He was the primary author of the Massachusetts Constitution (which greatly influenced the USA’s constitution).  

“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to know….Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. This is enough.” - John Adams (letter to his granddaughter). 

Sources: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121963/slaves-owned-by-us-presidents/#:~:text=Of the U.S.’ first twelve, until all slaves were freed & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams. 

 Photo: “Bridge over the Yellowstone River” - This beautiful bridge over the Yellowstone River in Columbus, Montana, was gorgeous being there in the fall with the gorgeous autumn colors. This was taken at Itch-Kep-Pe-Park. Niitsítpiis-Stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ; Cayuse, Umatilla, & Walla Walla; Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, Apsáalooke, & Salish Ancestral Homelands. October 2024. Nikon D850 & Nikon 24-70 lens. Panorama made with Lightroom. It was a very technical panorama to take, too.