Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic

Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic

Making the Presidency is an authoritative exploration of the second US presidency, a period critical to the survival of the American republic. Through meticulous research and engaging prose, Lindsay Chervinsky illustrates the unique challenges faced by Adams and shows how he shaped the office for his successors. One of the most qualified presidents in American history, he had been a legislator, political theorist, diplomat, minister, and vice president—but he had never held an executive position. Instead, the quixotic and stubborn Adams would rely on his ideas about executive power, the Constitution, politics, and the state of the world to navigate the hurdles of the position. He defended the presidency from his own often obstructionist cabinet, protected the nation from foreign attacks, and forged trust and dedication to election integrity and the peaceful transfer of power between parties, even though it cost him his political future.

Offering a portrait of one of the most fascinating and influential periods in US history, Making the Presidency is a must-read for anyone interested in the evolution of the presidency and the creation of political norms and customs at the heart of the American republic.

Biography:
Lindsay M. Chervinsky is a presidential historian and the Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library. She is the author of the award-winning book, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution, co-editor of Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture, and the forthcoming book, Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic. She regularly writes for public audiences in the Wall Street Journal, Ms. Magazine, The Daily Beast, The Bulwark, Time Magazine, USA Today, CNN, and the Washington Post.

History Forum 250: Revisiting the Revolution

Join celebrated authors and award-winning historians for a thought-provoking series on the history and legacy of the American Revolution during our nation’s 250th anniversary.

This program is part of MN250, commemorating the 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) of the American Revolution.

Since 2004, the Minnesota Historical Society’s History Forum has brought the nation’s leading historians and scholars to St. Paul to enrich our understanding of American history. Each year’s line-up features speakers who demonstrate excellence in historical scholarship and showcase the diversity, power, and complexity of our shared American story.

All events have live-captioning.

Event Location:

3M Auditorium, Minnesota History Center