The Most Talented Secretary Of State - 2309 Words

How could one man be what some consider the most talented Secretary of State there was and also be a disappointing president? John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of America, was a brilliant secretary of state but proved to be the wrong man for president. However, he was an amazingly skilled individual who worked hard in any position. He once said, â€Å"Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.† He definitely lived by this rule, as he worked hard to improve America, making many improvements, such as the Monroe Doctrine, settling border disputes, and improving foreign relations. Despite his unsuccessful presidency, his brilliance and forward thinking is still remembered.†¦show more content†¦However, Abigail Adams was very strict with her parenting and wanted to guide her children towards virtue (Nagel, 9). While this was hard due to John Adam’s absence, Abigail used letters from their f ather to teach her children good morals. Every Adam’s child looked up to their father, especially John Adams. Because his father was his role model, John Quincy picked up many of his traits. These included determination, a fierce independence, and stubbornness. This was also due to his parents’ strict and proper parenting values. They made John Quincy into a very virtuous and moral person and such a young age. While his father was gone, he took it upon himself to be the man of the house, taking it in his hands to protect his family and help his mother with his siblings even though he was around the age of 10. â€Å"(He felt) responsible—as the eldest son—for protecting his mother while his father attended to the business of revolution† (John Quincy Adams: Life Before the Presidency). He looked up to his father greatly and wanted to fill his role as much as possible. His sense of responsibility and good work ethic started at a young age and would st ay with him his whole life. He was educated by his father’s diplomats, tutors, and Abigail, and excelled in all courses including Latin and history. John Quincy enjoyed intellectual challenges and used his mind only for work, as he thought, â€Å"My thoughts are running after birds eggs, play, and trifles† (Nagel, 11). He felt the need to