Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
Capital Sidelights
pY WILL r. KENNEDY.

FRANCIS ADAMS OF Boston, treasurer Oh
Harvard University, great-great-gran
son OF John Adams, the second Pres
ident, Is to be appointed Secretary OF
the Navy or Secretary of Commerce
succeeding Secretary William G.. Whit
ing of Holyoke, Mass, to be New Eng
lands representative In the Hoover cab
met, recalls an interesting historical
ancedote.
When the Marquis de Lafayette was
visiting here on his last sojourn in the
land Of his adoption in the year 1924
rs, he expressed alarm on seeing John
Quincy Adams, the son of President
John Adams, elected to the presidency
Then he met at the White House young
Charles Francis Adams, bright young
man of 10, representing the third gen.
Grafton of the Adamses. He drew the
mother of the youth aside and eaution-
ed her earnestly to discourage in him
any ambitions to succeed his father and
grandfather except In response to the
free call Of the American people,
He was fearful that royal family
line might be developed In free America
The Adams family has always made
merry over these expressions of Lafa-
yette's absurd anxiety. Yet BENJAMIN
Franklin predicted that the presidency
would terminate in a dynasty, and the
red-headed, livid-tongued Patrick Henry
denounced the presidential tyrant OF
the future who would take the field at
the head OF his army, fasten his CALLING
yoke upon the necks of the people and
make one grand rush for the throne"
And now we have in a fifth gener-
alton OF Adamses ramesake of youth
who prompted Lafayette's fears prom
Used us as a cabinet oficer.
X ~ *
Now what about these Adamses
whose names have Uttered up history. .
1t was John Adams who said "Sink OIL
swim, live or die, survive or perish with
my country was my unalterable deter
mination." John Quincy Adams said
Westward the star Of empire takes its
way"
John Adams of Braintree was placed
fourteenth In his class of "a when Har-
ward catalogues were made up according
TO social rank. He taught school in
worcester TO finance him in the study
OF law when his Puritan stock looked
upon lawyers as ungodly, yet he mar
ried a parsons daughter In whose veins
flowed the blood of the Quincys and
Nortons. Abigail Adams has the uniuue
distinction OF having been the wife of
one President and the mother of an
other.
John Adams made the first proposal
that Washington be Commander-irl-
chief. He himself did picket duty in
Europe. He was the first independent
American to stand before the throne OF
England He Is called "our unhappiest
President" In his last day In the White
House he sat up all night signing ap-
pointmentS to foreStall his successor and
then drove out Of Washington at dawn
determined to take no part In Jeffer-
sons Inauguration. Eventually Abigail
Adams negotiated q reconciliation, and
Adams and Jefferson died on the same
Gay, the fiftieth anniversary of the
Fourth of July.
*&*
The presentation Of high silk hats TO
Vice President Curtis and others for
inaugural use is reminder of what
some OF our Presidents wore on inaugu-
ration day:
Washington was dressed in q dark
brown velvet suit with large silver
buttons. His trousers were knee length,
fastened at the knees with silver buckles.
At his side he wore q sword.
jefferson. at his second inauguration,
shocked his friends by appearing in
long trousers--the first time any public
ofdcer had worn this cut upon cere.
monial occasion.
Madison was the first President to
wear a suit Of american made
clothes
Monroe was the first President to
make lengthy inaugural address
Van Buren, was the first President
born an American citizen. He rode in a
phaeton made of timbers from the
old 4rigate, the Constitution.
William Henry Harrison rode on a
beautiful white horse. Due to his age
and the inclement weather, the Presi-
dent caught a cold which resulted In
his death one month later.
Franklin X. Pierce was the only Pres
ident who delivered his inaugural adj
dress without referring TO notes.
At Garfleld's inauguration there was
q grand parade Of the Regular Army
under command of Gen. Hancock, Car
fields Democratic opponent at the pre-
ceding election.
Roosevelt was hunting In the Adiron-
dacks 10 miles from a railroad when
the news reached him that President
Mckinley had died. Three changes OF
horses hurried him to the railroad.
John Quincy Adams has the distinc-
ton Of being our youngest and Oldest
public servant. He was secretary Of q
legation at the age OF IL He was
stricken at his desk In Congress In his
eighty-first year, and SIS Of the inter.
vening 81 years were spent In notable
service for his country. He was the first
American Minister 10 Berlin. He nego-
tiated the peace Of Client In 1914.
" X y
Note this: John Adams was the first
Minister TO London after the Revoiu-
ton, hts son, John Quincy Adams, was
on duty at the Court of st. James at
the close of the War Of 1912, and the
grandson, Charles Francis Adams, was
Minister there during Civil War days.
John Quincy Adams Is recorded as our
only non-partisan President. He re-
tired at the age of 81, refusing, like
his father, to attend the Inauguration
Of his successor. Within q year he
WIS elected by the people Of the MaSsa-
chusetts district to the national House
Of Representatives. He served In the
House. recognized leader. for nearly
10 years until stricken at his post.
February al, I848. A marble bust and
commemorative tablet are In the small
office of Statuary Hall in the Capitol.
where he died, now used as the ofice
OF the clerk Of the House, William