The Excellent *John Adams* Miniseries – Stephen Hicks, Ph.D.

(I’m reposting this recommendation.)

John Adams the miniseries came out last year, but I just started watching it yesterday. The first two episodes are excellent. What a great way to spend part of the 4th of July.

Paul Giamatti’s performance captivated me: I now appreciate John Adams’ genius, determination and integrity even more. I also now appreciate Abigail Adams’ energy, dedication and no-nonsense intelligence even more; Laura Linney plays Abigail in the series.

By chance, I was in Boston late last month and took a day trip to Braintree and Quincy, Massachusetts, where I visited Adams’ birthplace and the Old House with its magnificent garden and grounds.

Back to the miniseries: Stephen Dillane’s intellectual and reserved portrayal of Thomas Jefferson was hypnotic – I found myself staring at him, trying to figure out what he was thinking.

It is no coincidence that there were two fascinating Jefferson articles in the New York Times and that Wall Street JournalThe first is about a journalist’s bizarre and touching visit to Monticello and the second is about Jefferson, the musician. Well worth reading.

Not coincidentally, I recently interviewed two scholars of Adams and Jefferson. Professors Brad Thompson and David Mayer visited Rockford College and the Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship this spring. Videos of my interviews with Thompson about Adams and Mayer about Jefferson can be viewed on the Center’s website.