John F. Kennedy, 1955
Accounts of some great Americans who made some very courageous decisions.
ISBN-10: 0060854936
LEXILE SCORE: 1410L
BOOKSELLER
Discussion/Study Questions
PART ONE “The Time and The Place”
Summary: The section discusses the evolution of the Senate from what was supposed to be an advisory counsel to the President with high honor and immune from public pressures, to a selfish bunch who seemed to care only about their party and their state.
1. What does the author mean when he states that the Senate “would not be subjected to constituent pressures.”
2. Give a few examples of how Senators differed from their counterparts in the House of Representatives?
3. To what English political group was the Senate supposed to be similar? Why?
4. In the early days of the Senate, how did the Senators cooperate with President Washington?
5. What changed this relationship?
6. Specify the changes that took place after 1800 that brought about changes in the way the Senate operated?
7. How did the Senate feel about admitting women into the Senate chambers?
8. Some of the actions described by Senators indicate their behavior lacked some dignity. Give examples of some of the acts which gave senators the perception of arrogance?
9. What is meant by “in the place of the most delicate honor, ….” He (McClary) “found the basest selfishness’
10. How did political parties contribute to the “selfishness” described here?
PART ONE “John Quincy Adams” Summary:
The section details the political life of John Quincy Adams and includes first person accounts.
1. Why does Adams receive an anonymous hate letter?
2. How does Adams react to the Federalist party deserting him?
3. What does he envision will happen to him as a result of his support of Jefferson’s Embargo Act?
4. Describe Adam’s early feelings of being inadequate and living up to his own expectations and those of his father
5. What evidence does the book present that Adams did not feel himself worthy as a public servant to this country?
6. What evidence does the author use to indicate that by “ignoring the political facts of life,” he (Adams) and his father were not popular?
7. What evidence does the author offer to show John Quincy Adams’ “touching loyalty” to his father’s memory?
8. How did Adams originally feel about the Federalist Party? Why?
9. What did Adams do within just a few days of being elected that angered his own political party?
10. How does the author describe the relationship between Adams and the other Senator from Massachusetts Thomas Pickering?
11. Adams was the only Federalist in Congress to support what major land acquisition?
12. Despite angering his party, why did he do this? Give several reasons.
13. How did John Quincy Adam’s father react to his son’s support of this land acquisition?
14. Despite the ever increasing behavior of Senators to yield to what was popular with their own states or regions, Adams voted his conscience. What does the author suggest was Adams’ motivation for voting this way?
15. What evidence does the author offer that Adams was not liked in the Congress and that he even knew this ?
16. What was Adams; opinion on the Chesapeake incident?
17. How did the Federalists feel about this?
18. Adams states “this measure will cost you and me our seats.” What does he mean by this and why?
19. Describe the reaction in new England to Adams’ support of the Embargo Act. Give evidence.
20. How does Adams’ father try and encourage his son during this difficult time?
21. What did the Governor and other political leaders do to Adams in 1808 as a result of his support of the Embargo Act?
22. While the book does not talk about Adam’s Presidency, it does mention what he does after leaving he White House. What does he do?
23. How does Adams feel about his last political position?
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