Making the Presidency

John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic

By: Lindsay M. Chervinsky

Narrated by: Lindsay M. Chervinsky

An authoritative account of the second president of the United States that shows how John Adams's leadership and legacy defined the office for those who followed and ensured the survival of the American republic.

The United States of 1797 faced enormous challenges, provoked by enemies foreign and domestic. The father of the new nation, George Washington, left his vice president, John Adams, with relatively little guidance and impossible expectations to meet. Adams was confronted with intense partisan divides, debates over citizenship, fears of political violence, potential for foreign conflict with France and Britain, and a nation unsure that the presidency could even work without Washington at the helm.

Making the Presidency is an authoritative exploration of the second US presidency, a period critical to the survival of the American republic. Through meticulous research and engaging prose, Lindsay Chervinsky illustrates the unique challenges faced by Adams and shows how he shaped the office for his successors. One of the most qualified presidents in American history, he had been a legislator, political theorist, diplomat, minister, and vice president—but he had never held an executive position. Instead, the quixotic and stubborn Adams would rely on his ideas about executive power, the Constitution, politics, and the state of the world to navigate the hurdles of the position. He defended the presidency from his own often obstructionist cabinet, protected the nation from foreign attacks, and forged trust and dedication to election integrity and the peaceful transfer of power between parties, even though it cost him his political future.

Offering a portrait of one of the most fascinating and influential periods in US history, Making the Presidency is a must-read for anyone interested in the evolution of the presidency and the creation of political norms and customs at the heart of the American republic.

©2024 Lindsay M. Chervinsky (P)2024 Dreamscape Media

Jefferson’s and Hamilton’s machinations

Learning about Adams and how he helped enshrine the peaceful transfer of office, which lasted until January 6, 2020.

We almost lost it all…

Making the presidency is an amazing look at how fragile the early republic was and still is. John Adams is often overlooked between Washington and Jefferson, but he was the one that took the baton from Washington to establish president and he was the one that passed off the baton to Jefferson And contentious election as you’re reading you can’t help but draw parallels between 1800 and 2020 and beyond. It’s an insightful book and poor John Adams had much to deal with including descent from within his own cabinet. This is a great for student of American history or political science.

Lots to learn about Mr. Adams and the forming of our government

This is an excellent book and a must read for anyone interested in how our government was formed.

A non-comprehensive deep cut on Adam's Presiency

if you want a well-rounded account, you've got David McCullough. Here you will get a clear and concise portrait of a Presidency that lacked precedent, involved a ton of backstabbing, and brought us to the brink of war with France, which was deftly averted by Adams' diplomacy.

This is a slice of political life from before the turn of the 19th century, and it is very well researched and told. A modern reader might raise an eyebrow with the references to January 6. 2020, as the author seems to take care from avoiding the pitfall of presentism until the bell lap (it's in the epilogue). But hey...the New York times wants to paint Adam's and Kamala Harris as peers because both were Vice Presidents, and falls all over itself suggesting democracy was saved when Harris became the nominee, despite some very apparent messiness behind the scenes. This author tells the tale of messiness during Adams' reign, and does it remarkably well. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a tale full of intrigue, but doesn't have 30+ hours for it to unfold.

Well researched and compelling story about

Well researched and compelling story about the remarkable public service of this often overlooked, but great president. Dr. Chervinsky's timely work portrays a fragile republic without critical precedents, and John Adams' recognition of the magnitude of his decisions as he leaned into The Constitution to guide him. This should be required reading for every American.

Fantastic!

I enjoyed pretty much everything about this work. The historical research was thorough, the interpretation credible, and the author’s reading of her own words was flawless.

A Must Read

Excellent read. All Americans should read this book. The writing is superb and the narration is very good.

Great

Great look at a mostly unforgotten founder of this country.
The author is a powerful historian who writes for the average person.

highly detailed... highly boring

The detail in this book is like no other John Adams book I have ever read... outstanding. terrific job. Unfortunately it's all politics. there's no real good nuggets of information regarding John and the presidency etc..

More information about what a weasel Thomas Jefferson truly was. I would have liked to have read more about what brought the two of them together later in life after all of the damage that Thomas Jefferson did to John Adams reputation.

Good biography deserves better narrator

Well researched, and a great American history story, but narration is mediocre, with some mispronounced words.