Making the Presidency

This book 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 John Adams and shows how he shaped the office for his successors.

Adams, one of the most qualified presidents in American history, had been a legislator, political theorist, diplomat, minister, and vice president but had never held an executive position.

He relied on his ideas about executive power, the Constitution, politics, and the state of the world to navigate the hurdles of the position.

Adams 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.