Program Information

Abigail Adams was the first and, until 2001, the only woman to be both first lady and mother of a president of the United States.

A Moment in Time is a brief, exciting and compelling journey into the past. Created to excite and enlighten the public about the past, its relevance to the present and its impact on the future, A Moment In Time is a captivating historical narrative that is currently broadcast worldwide.

Transcript

Lead: Abigail Adams was the first and, until 2001, the only woman to be both first lady and mother of a president of the United States.

Intro: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts.

Content: The marriage of John and Abigail Adams is one of the great love stories in American history. Their abundant correspondence, exchanged during John Adams' frequent absences on commonwealth or national business, revealed a mutual respect and admiration and is surprisingly passionate, considering his often sour disposition and rather grim reputation as a determined and dedicated patriot.

During one of his long stays in Europe as ambassador she wrote, "Alass, my dear, I am much afflicted with a disorder call'd the Heartach, nor can any remedy be found in America." He missed her too and regularly grieved over the way public responsibilities kept them apart. From Amsterdam in 1781, he wrote, "What a fine affair it would be if We could flit across the Atlantic as they say Angels do from Planet to Planet. I would dart over . . . and bring you over on my Wings."

While John was away, Abigail managed the household, ran the farm, made sure their four children were educated, took care of family finances and made good on their investments. He considered her his intellectual peer, trusted her explicitly and left most decisions to her.

When John Adams began courting Abigail Smith, her parents were not sure this farmer's son was worthy of their daughter's hand. At their wedding her father, a congregational minister, revealed their doubts. He took a text from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 7, Verse 33, "John came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say he has a demon."

During the Revolutionary era, John and Abigail deeply respected and admired Thomas Jefferson. The feelings of esteem were mutual. Jefferson and Adams worked diligently together to bring about independence. With the coming of the new Republic after 1789, political differences began to create a strain on their friendship; and the bitter campaign of 1800, in which Jefferson took the presidency from Adams, caused what appeared to be a permanent breech. Abigail was distressed by this separation and, without her husband's knowledge, began a private correspondence with Jefferson in hopes of healing the division--but it was too early and she broke off their contact. After Jefferson left the White House, through the intervention of a mutual friend, the two former presidents reestablished a relationship which lasted until their deaths on the same day, July 4, 1826. Mrs. Adams surely approved.

At the University of Richmond, this is Dan Roberts.

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