I’m John Adams and I approve this message.
(voiceover)
You know him. You love him.
Errr....well...you’ve heard of him, right? He was the 2nd President...or was it the 3rd? And doesn’t he have a beer named after him?
(Cue President Adams)
Hi, I’m John Adams and I’m running for cultural icon.
When you think of United States founding fathers, who comes to mind? Washington? Jefferson? Franklin? These are all deserving figures, but why does the name Adams not resound near the top?
I’ll have you know that I was there with these revolutionary celebrities, contributing a brand of clarity that was often perceived as bristling Massachusetts stubbornness. Yet when decisions were made, it was my council that was consistently sought. Credit must be given to these great men, as it was our combined efforts that led to our nation’s independence, but they have been elevated to god-like status in public memory while I am relegated to a bystander.
In Tom Hooper’s miniseries, based on the clever biography by David McCullough, you’ll see my legacy presented in one of the most engaging historical reenactments ever captured on film. Paul Giamatti’s hard, New England face and demeanor accurately depict my nuances beyond the confines of mere mimicry. Alongside Laura Linney as my wife, Abigail, Mr. Giamatti will guide you through my fascinating life, granting a new perspective of hallowed characters and illuminating my own life, of which little is foremost in national memory.
Did you know that I defended (successfully, I might add) the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre? What about my time spent abroad during the Revolutionary War, during which I forfeited witnessing my children’s adolescence only to face continual opposition by our impossible European neighbors? Additionally, you will at long last be able to converse amongst your contemporaries over events from my presidency, citing my prevention of military engagement against France and being the initial resident of the White House. And you will be moved by my home life, a challenging familial quest for honor and love that rivals our country’s struggles for independence.
Upon the motion picture’s completion, I trust that you will embrace me no longer as “some old dead guy,” but as a cultural icon on par with the more immortalized founding fathers. May it provide insight in a chasm created by a lack of tall tales and omissions from major currency and Mt. Rushmore.
So I ask you once more: consider John Adams as a United States hero. The results of Mr. Hooper’s filmed dramatization are ample evidence to elicit your support, and I encourage you to consult the work if you have not already done so. I say, good day!
(voiceover)
Paid for by David McCullough and HBO Films.