I have always found this a remarkable and clear photograph of perhaps one of the greatest men of not only the 18th and 19th centuries. But of all American history. Sadly and terribly under rated, he is perhaps the greatest intellect that ever was President. Perhaps one of, if not the greatest intellect in the history of our political system. The man who did more for the end of slavery than any other politician of his time. I dare say he was walking the walk long before Lincoln ever gave such thoughts attention and found them political useful to himself. Adams was not interested in the political benefits as Lincoln was. He was interested in doing what was right. That is all.
That is why I find him unique in the fray of politics, as he was above it. Remember it was Adams who killed the Gag Rule. If you are not familiar with it, you should become so. As it was this action that lit the fuse that started the Civil War. Adams would be long dead by the time of that war. But you can see if there was anyone who wanted to see the country restored and slavery ended, it was he. Truly there was no greater political champion to that end than Adams. A great under rated man, who basically created the path, ideals, concepts, and even ways of emancipation that Lincoln would follow and implement 20 years after.