title: The Life and Times of Congressman John Quincy Adams
author:  Leonard L. Richards 
description: "A well-written reconsideration of John Quincy Adams's postpresidential career....A useful corrective to the literature on Adams."--Journal of American History<br /><br />"A significant contribution, not only to Adams historiography, but also to that of early nineteenth-century U.S. in general."--Booklist<br /><br />"A spirited study of how nineteenth-century politics worked."--American Heritage<br /><br />"Well-written and well-researched....Richards makes a convincing case that he was correct in framing his opposition and foreseeing the end result: the Civil War."--Chicago Tribune<br /><br />"This volume highlights not only Adams's career as congressman but also paints a clear picture of congressional politics in the days of the young republic."--American History Illustrated<br /><br />"In this gracefully written volume Richards...burns through the romantic fog that has enshrouded Adams' later years."--Ohio History
zlib_text: L I F E  
  AND  
  PUBLIC SERVICES  
  of  
  JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,  
  SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.  
  
  ##### WITH THE EULOGY DELIVERED BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW YORK.
  
  #### BY WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
  
  I encourage you to forgive the verbose style that suggests authors were paid
  by the word. The gems of character description and contemporary viewpoints are
  worth the effort.
  
  The book supports the observation "The news never changes, just the names." I
  am encouraged that the tone of politics is not much different today than it
  was at Adams' time. Things are no worse. In spite of continual bickering, a
  few persons with good will, careful planning, hard work and a thick skin can
  achieve wonderful results.
  
  The following glossary contains unfamiliar (to me) terms.
  
  abjuration  
  Renounce under oath; forswear. Recant solemnly; repudiate. Give up.  
  Abstain from.  
  
  abstemious  
  Eating and drinking in moderation. Sparingly used. Restricted to bare  
  necessities.  
  
  Aceldama  
  A place with dreadful