Open Thread
by openthread
Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:40:01 PM PDT
July 4, 1826
On that date, our nation's second president lay dying. Over the difficult course of his presidency and the years that immediately followed, his friendship with Thomas Jefferson had been terribly strained. But a bit at a time, through voluminous correspondence that stretched over decades, the bond between the two men had been restored.
In his last moments, John Adams' thoughts turned to his friend. His final words were "Jefferson survives." He did not know that Jefferson -- his rival, his enemy, and his great friend -- had preceded him in death only a few hours before.
It was the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
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