Profiles in Courage

Profiles In Courage is a book that focuses on the adversity that very few United States Senators have been willing to deal with in order to cultivate their ideas of better democracy. It focuses primarily on the independent thoughts and views that those few politicians have been willing to stand up for, with other odds against them. The first Senator that is focused on is John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts, son of John Adams. He was a Puritan and a Federalist, with odd loyalty to his father. One of the odd things about the younger Adams was his constant sense. No matter what he accomplished, and he did accomplish a lot (such as being an emissary to England, a president of the United States, minister to Russia, a Senator, and several other things), he was never satisfied. He did things on his own accord, knowing that following his own principles would lead to unpopularity, which it most certainly did. When a party was thrown by the Jeffersonians to celebrate the Louisiana purchase, he was there, much to the distaste of the fellow members of his party. When three patriots died and the Federalists wanted to wear crepe for one month in their honor, he opposed it. One of Quincy's main standards that he set for himself was that he would not pretend or dissemble in order to win popularity, or voter support. Adams only had one term on the Senate started with his obvious independent thinking and non-automatic reciprocity when he suggested that the opposing party be given an equal spot on the Governor's council. He also differed from his multitude on another large issue. During his years on the Senate, Britain seized U.S. vessels. Adams condemned Britain for this, though his party pitied Britain for its difficulties in its war against the French. Adams asked his party soon after to call a meeting, but they did not follow through. Adams, instead, attended the town meeting held by the Republicans. "Old Man Eloquent" was later asked to become a congressmen. He