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In 1797, President George Washington was determined to unambiguously hand over the nation’s reins for the first time.
He attended the inauguration ceremony of John Adams to show his support. Unfortunately, Adams struggled to follow Washington’s lead https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
He attended the inauguration ceremony of John Adams to show his support. Unfortunately, Adams struggled to follow Washington’s lead https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Adams wouldn’t be the last leader to act out during these critical moments for American democracy.
On his first full day as president, John Adams found the time to complain to his wife in a letter about Washington’s magnanimous behavior https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
On his first full day as president, John Adams found the time to complain to his wife in a letter about Washington’s magnanimous behavior https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Washington, he wrote, “seemed to enjoy a triumph over me. Methought I heard him say, ‘Ay, I am fairly out and you fairly in! See which of us will be happiest!”
Indeed, Washington’s return to Mount Vernon was a happy one https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Indeed, Washington’s return to Mount Vernon was a happy one https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Adams, meanwhile, became engulfed in controversy.
He waged a vicious war on the political opposition, using the Alien and Sedition Acts to prosecute followers of Thomas Jefferson. Thin-skinned and vindictive, Adams tried to stay in power – and failed https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
He waged a vicious war on the political opposition, using the Alien and Sedition Acts to prosecute followers of Thomas Jefferson. Thin-skinned and vindictive, Adams tried to stay in power – and failed https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Jefferson ultimately defeated Adams.
Well before dawn on Inauguration Day, Adams left Washington in a horse-drawn carriage. Some of his more charitable biographers have argued that this flight was simply an attempt to avoid stealing the limelight https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Well before dawn on Inauguration Day, Adams left Washington in a horse-drawn carriage. Some of his more charitable biographers have argued that this flight was simply an attempt to avoid stealing the limelight https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
But his son John Quincy Adams did something very similar in 1828 when he lost to Andrew Jackson.
Unlike his dad, his decision was based on the cabinet’s advice, almost all of whom hoped to avoid further embarrassment after a brutal campaign https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Unlike his dad, his decision was based on the cabinet’s advice, almost all of whom hoped to avoid further embarrassment after a brutal campaign https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
When Jackson stepped down, he gave way to Martin Van Buren, his hand-picked successor.
No conflict there. In fact, the two men invented a new transition tradition: outgoing and incoming presidents riding together to the inauguration in a carriage https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
No conflict there. In fact, the two men invented a new transition tradition: outgoing and incoming presidents riding together to the inauguration in a carriage https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Presidential transitions remained remarkably civil until Andrew Johnson’s disastrous term.
Much like President Trump, Johnson proved a terribly divisive figure. His replacement, Ulysses S. Grant, loathed him as much as anyone https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Much like President Trump, Johnson proved a terribly divisive figure. His replacement, Ulysses S. Grant, loathed him as much as anyone https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
In the end, though, it was Grant who came off looking like a sore loser — despite winning the election. He:
Had “bitter personal and party animosity”
Blew off Johnson’s New Year’s reception
Refused to share a carriage with the outgoing president https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Had “bitter personal and party animosity”Blew off Johnson’s New Year’s receptionRefused to share a carriage with the outgoing president https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Grant's behavior during the transition was a harbinger of troubles to come.
Though subsequent transitions have been tense, they never degenerated to this degree https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Though subsequent transitions have been tense, they never degenerated to this degree https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
Hoover despised FDR, but they still shared a carriage on the way to the ceremonyEisenhower and Truman squabbled, but they rode together in a limousine.Carter did the same after his defeat by Reagan, as did H.W. Bush and Clinton https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
It may not be a coincidence that presidents who behave badly during transitions usually share something else in common, too: They’re viewed as the worst presidents overall.
As for Trump, he’s a throwback to a less civilized era of petty partisanship https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
As for Trump, he’s a throwback to a less civilized era of petty partisanship https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-10/transition-history-of-petty-presidents-adams-to-trump?sref=2o0rZsF1
