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www.hbo.com/films/johnad

he unitedthe states of america.

based on the pulitzer prize-winning boo

Brilliant and ambitious, honest and courageous, bold and outspoken, John Adams was a ferv

patriot whose unwavering commitment to independence guided the nation through its birth aturbulent early decades. The public and private worlds of Americas second President come

life in an epic 7-part miniseries event based on David McCulloughs acclaimed biography.

Premieres sunday, march 16, 2008 at 8Pm

Following sundays at 9Pm

VerbatimPeople and nations are forged inthe fires of adversity.

John AdAms

Fear is the foundation ofmost governments.

John AdAms

The man to whom the country ismost indebted for the great measure ofindependence is Mr. John Adams of Boston.I call him the Atlas of American Independence.

RichARd stockton, new JeRsey delegAte

to the continentAl congRess

Your prophecies proved truer than mine; and yet fellshort of the fact, for instead of a million, the destructionof eight or ten millions of human beings has probablybeen the effect of these convulsions. I did not, in [17]89,believe they would have lasted so long, nor have cost somuch blood.

thomAs JeffeRson, wRiting to John AdAms

About the fRench Revolution

I look back to the early days of our acquaintance andfriendship as to the days of love and innocence, and,with an indescribable pleasure, I have seen near a scoreof years roll over our heads with an affection heightenedand improved by time, nor have the dreary years ofabsence in the smallest degree effaced from my mindthe image of the dear untitled man to whom I gavemy heart.

AbigAil AdAms, wRiting to John AdAms in 1782

Join, or Die

This famous political cartoonthe first

inAmerican historywas drawn by BenjaminFranklin and published in the Pennsylvania Gazette

on May 9, 1754. This woodcut shows a snake cut into

eight parts, each of which represents a British colony

in America. In an editorial that accompanied the cartoon,

Franklin urged colonists to band together against the

French and Indians, who were clashing with colonists

over land rights. Shortly after this cartoon was

published, the French and Indian War began,

and American and British troops joined forces

to fight against Native American and French

soldiers. The cartoon was later widely

used during the American Revolution,

when it took on a different meaning.

Paul Revere created a version in

which the snake is seen fighting

a British dragon.

Notebook

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foRged in the fiRes ofadversityJohn adams hasnt receivedthe attention he deserves,

argues historian DavidMcCullough, author of the PulitzerPrize-winning biographyJohnAdams. According to McCullough,few leaders contributed more thanAdams to the birth and early history

of the United States of America.John Adams was born in

Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1735.His father John, a farmer and deacon,hoped that Adams would becomea minister. His mother, SusannaBoylston Adams, was known for herdedication to church and family.

In 1751, Adams enteredHarvard College, which at that timeconsisted of four buildings and seveninstructors. Following his graduation,Adams accepted a position as a

schoolmaster. After teaching forseveral years, Adams turned hisattention to law. As a lawyer, heoffered to represent anyone in troublewith the authorities. In 1770, to theshock of many, Adams defended agroup of British soldiers who hadbeen accused of murder during the

Boston Massacre. By proving thata Boston mob had provoked thesoldiers, Adams won the case. Thoughhis law practice suffered, this casedemonstrated Adamss commitmentto fight for justice at all costs.

Adams met Abigail Smith in1761. They married in 1764 and hadfive children: Abigail (Nabby),John Quincy, Susanna, Charles andThomas. Throughout their 54-year

marriage, Abigail servedas a partner, trustedconfidante andadviser to John.

In 1774, theMassachusetts

legislaturesent Adams toPhiladelphia,where heserved asa delegateto the Firstand SecondContinentalCongresses.

While many of his fellow delegateswanted to improve relations withKing George III, Adams arguedpassionately in favor of independenceand soon concluded that war withBritain was inevitable. RecognizingGeorge Washingtons unparalleledskills as a military leader, Adams

nominated Washington to commandthe Continental Army. When theRevolutionary War began, Adamsserved as a diplomat in France andthe Netherlands. He secured loansand created alliances that played adecisive role in Americas victory overGreat Britain. Adams helped negotiatethe Treaty of Paris, which outlinedthe terms for ending the war.

Upon his return to America,Adams wrote the Constitution of theCommonwealth of Massachusetts.This landmark documentwhichoutlines a system of checks andbalances among the three branchesof governmentbecame a model

for the U.S. Constitution.

a c wWhen George Washington waselected President in 1789, Adamsbecame Americas first Vice Presidentand held that office for eight years.Adams ran for President in 1796 andwon the election by three electoralvotes over his longtime politicalrival Thomas Jefferson, who became

Vice President. As President, Adamsfaced numerous challenges. The

country was in an undeclared warwith France, and many lawmakerswere clamoring for Adams to sendU.S. troops to France. Rather thandeclare war, Adams signed into lawthe Alien and Sedition Acts, whichpunished critics who spoke outagainst the government and placedlimits on civil liberties. Although theselaws tarnished Adamss reputation,he defended them as temporarymeasures. Adams ultimately achieveda diplomatic resolution to the conflictwith France. He saw this agreement,which saved America from a costly

war, as his single greatestaccomplishment.

Unfortunately forAdams, the election of 1800took place before word of his successfuldiplomacy with France reached voters.Jefferson ran against Adams andwon the election. Adams returned toMassachusetts, where he farmed andwrote. Statues and monuments willnever be erected to me, he predicted.To a large degree, Adamss fears wererealizeduntil recently. Thanks to

David McCullough and otherAdams has gained new app

Adams lived to the agesaw his son, John Quincbecome Americas sixth Pr1825. Adams died on July 450th anniversary of the adopDeclaration of Independensame day on which Jeffers

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[I]n the new code of laws which I suppose

be necessary for you to make, I desire you

remember the ladies, and be more genero

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PoWer oftheletter ProMotion ends3/31/08.

Key Dates

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Letters

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