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Earlier this week, President Bush went to the city of Wheeling, WV to talk with the folks there about whatever was on their minds. After making some remarks on the war in Iraq and reminding everyone that things are getting better there, even though it’s difficult to see that at times, he took questions from the audience. If you could ask the President one question, what would it be?
President Bush: I had a little guy back here. Yes, sir.
Student: Do you like living in the White House?
President Bush: Do I like living in the White House? Yes. That's a good, fair question. Well, I've been the President for five and a half years. I do like living in the White House. It's an interesting question -- for some practical reasons. I've got a 45-second commute to my office. The food is pretty good. I've enjoyed every second of the presidency. That's probably hard -- like my buddies come up from Texas; one of the things that Laura and I are most proud of -- we're proud of a lot -- we're most proud of our girls, but we're also very proud of the fact that we had friends prior to being in politics from Texas that will be our friends after we're in politics. And they come up from Texas, and they're kind of looking at you like, man, are you okay? Yes -- you know. And I tell them, I say, you know, I can't tell you want an honor it is to do this job.
They often ask, what's the job description? I say, making decisions. And I make a lot. Obviously, I'm trying to share with you -- you may not agree with the decision, but at the very minimum, I want you to understand that I make my decisions based upon some principles I hold dear. In order to make decisions, you have to be enthusiastic about your job, you have to be optimistic about the future, and you have to stand for something. You can't be a President trying to search for what you believe in the midst of all the noise in Washington.
Another questioner wanted to be sure President Bush knew about all the people who pray for him. Read carefully President Bush’s response to her comment. Do you think the President appreciates our prayers? Do you think he believes that he needs our prayers? Here are her words:
Woman: I have a comment, first of all, and then just a real quick question. I want to let you know that every service at our church you are, by name, lifted up in prayer, and you and your staff and all of our leaders. And we believe in you. We are behind you. And we cannot thank you enough for what you've done to shape our country.
President Bush: Thank you for your concerns, and thank you for your prayer. I want to tell you something interesting about the job of President, and, frankly, I didn't anticipate this part of the presidency, but it's an amazing part of my job to know that millions of people pray for me. It’s a great thing…It really is. It's -- think about that. Strangers stand up and say, in front of a couple thousand people, I'm praying for you. And it helps. And I appreciate it, and I want to thank you for your prayers. It helps do the job, it helps keep perspective.
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| Barney, President and Mrs. Bush’s Scottish Terrier, poses with the pink tulips in the First Ladies’ Garden during the White House Garden Tour, earlier this week. Photo courtesy of the White House. |
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Abigail Adams was an intelligent and outspoken woman who deeply loved and cared for her children. Portrait courtesy of the
Library of Congress. |
Do you know about Abigail Adams? If not, we want to be sure you get to know her. She was a great woman of faith who used her influence with her husband to help in the shaping of our country and our Constitution.
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| This photo shows the home Abigail Adams’ lived in as she grew up. Photo courtesy of the Abigail Adams Historical Society. |
Abigail Adams was born Abigail Smith in Weymouth, Massachusetts (that’s just south of Boston) in 1744. From both sides of Abigail’s family, she inherited great New England traditions. Her mother's family were the Quincy’s, a well-known family in the colony; her father’s family were ministers in the Congregational church. In colonial America, ministers were some of the most important leaders. And remember, Abigail was a British subject since there was no “America” yet!
Though Abigail did not have a formal education (in part because she was very sick as a child), her bright mind and quick wit were obvious to her family. She was taught at home by her mother and she loved to browse through her father’s huge library. Her training in the Christian faith, poetry and literature, manners and domestic skills would all prove to be excellent training for the woman who would become the second First Lady of the United States.
Abigail Smith met John Adams who was drawn to her for sharp intellect and her way with words. They also had a strong Christian faith in common. They fell deeply in love and were married in 1764 with Abigail’s father, Rev. Smith performing the ceremony in their home.
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| This photo shows the Adams’ home as it looks today. You can go there and learn all about President John Adams and his son, President John Quincy Adams, our nation’s 6th president. Photo courtesy of the National Parks Conservation Association. |
After Abigail and John Adams were married, they set up housekeeping on the Adams’ homestead in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts. John Adams was a young lawyer who was not afraid to handle difficult cases. But his success in one case led to success in another, and he soon had a very good reputation. He was known for being a wise man and a careful thinker. His reputation began to spread throughout New England.
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| The members of the Continental Congress were the earliest leaders of our country. Painting courtesy of the Library of Congress. |
Before long, John Adams was serving in the Continental Congress where his many contributions were really appreciated. Mr. Adams believed strongly that the Colonies should separate from Britain--so strongly that he felt the revolution was God’s doing. Abigail supported him in this cause, and often wrote to him with suggestions for the new nation. She also felt that; to serve his country, a patriot must be a person of faith. In this letter to her good friend, Mercy Warren, she wrote of her feelings:
A patriot without religion in my estimation is as great a paradox as an honest man without the fear of God. Is it possible that he, whom no moral obligations bind, can have any real good will towards men? Can he be a patriot who, by an openly vicious conduct, is undermining the very bonds of Society?…The Scriptures tell us, “Righteousness exalteth a nation.”
--Abigail Adams
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| This photo, taken at the Adams homestead in Quincy, Massachusetts, shows how Abigail might have dressed--even when she was tending her garden! Photo courtesy of National Parks Conservation Association. |
Because of her husband’s many responsibilities, they were often separated for long periods of time. John would be serving the Continental Congress in Philadelphia while Abigail stayed home with their children in Braintree. She got better and better at managing in John’s absences, and she began offering her ideas on many subjects, ranging from the raising of their children to the management of their money, to the founding of the new country.
When the country was still young and its leaders were still figuring out how to organize the government, the Continental Congress asked John to represent them in France. After all the separation the family had experienced, neither John nor Abigail liked this idea at all! Yet they believed very much that public service was important, so they decided that John would go. After giving it some thought, Abigail decided not to accompany him, but their 11 year old son, Johnny, who was a bright and precocious student, would go as his father’s personal secretary. This was a really great experience for young John Quincy, and it added untold benefits for his education.
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| Abigail learned how to conduct herself in both French and English high society, even though she was a “country” girl from a small town. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. |
Abigail did eventually join her husband overseas both in France and in England--experiences that were very different from the quiet country life she enjoyed in Braintree, but she survived and thrived, learning about French culture and society.
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| This early drawing of the White House shows how it looked when Abigail and John Adams moved into it. Picture courtesy of the White House Historical Society. |
When John Adams was elected Vice President under George Washington, Abigail joined him in New York. When he was elected President, the Adams’ moved into the President’s House in Philadelphia. Did you know that the White House was not yet the home of the President of the United States? That’s right! George Washington never lived in the White House. A “president’s residence” had been planned for quite some time, but was still under construction. Even after the Adams’ moved into to the Washington, D.C. mansion, there were still major parts of the home that were not yet finished. In fact, Abigail wrote a letter home telling how:
There is not a single apartment finished, and all inside, except the plastering, has [just] been done…We have not the least fenceyard, or other convenience, without, and the great unfinished audience room I make a drying-room of, to hang up the clothes in. The [main] stairs are not up, and will not be this winter.
--Abigail Adams
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| This painting shows Abigail Adams as she used the biggest space available to hang her laundry. Image courtesy of the White House Historical Association. |
As she always did, Abigail made the best of the situation. She hung out her laundry in what is now the East Room!
Their time in the White House was only four months, and once John and Abigail Adams were finished with their lives in public service, they looked forward to a long and happy time back at home in Braintree. They lived for many years, and John was able to see his son, John Quincy, become the 6th president of the United States.
A patriot without religion in my estimation is as great a paradox as an honest Man without the fear of God. Is it possible that he whom no moral obligation binds, can have any real good will towards men? Can he be a patriot who, by an openly vicious conduct, is undermining the very bonds of Society? The Scriptures tell us “righteousness exalteth a Nation.”
--Abigail Adams
Read the above quote again and answer the following questions:
QUESTION 1
True or False: Abigail Adams believes that people who believe in God could not possibly be patriots.
- True
- False
QUESTION 2
True or False: Abigail believes that morals are really important for people who hold public office.
- True
- False
QUESTION 3
True or False: Abigail believes that when the people of a country obey God, God will honor that country by helping it to prosper and succeed.
- True
- False
Abigail Adams was very fond of the Scriptures. Her idea that God would bring blessing to America when and if the citizens obeyed Him comes straight from our Bible. Can you think of the verse? Hover here to read:
We’ve looked at the words of many important people this week, from President Bush to Abigail and John Adams and the famous founder of the U.S. Navy, John Paul Jones! Each one has great respect for our country, and many express how very important their Christian faith is to them. In the case of Abigail Adams, she believed that every person should express an ideal mix of their faith in God and their love for their country—that the two just go together perfectly. Do you agree with her? Do you love God first, and then your country? If you do, you’re doing a great job of following the example of Abigail Adams and many other great patriots who sacrificed for our nation.
So remember that one of the greatest ways you can show your love for America is to pray for her—and for her leaders. That’s what The Presidential Prayer Team for Kids is all about! And as always, thanks for your prayers—you’ll never know what an incredible difference they make in our country!
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