John Adams Administration - Adams's Advisers
Adams's Advisers
In 1797 there was no precedent for a changing presidential administration, and thus no custom for the cabinet members to offer their resignations to the incoming president. In the midst of this, Adams made what he later called one of the biggest blunders of his presidency. He decided to retain Washington's cabinet instead of making his own personal selections. Adams believed that successful government depended on experienced men. He also saw how difficult it was for Washington to fill the low-paying cabinet positions with competent men after Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson resigned late in Washington's presidency. Also, politically, Adams feared that dismissing a Federalist cabinet would cause a rift in the party. What he did not know was that such a rift was destined during his presidency.
Hamilton was the root of the troubles in Adams's cabinet. An extreme...
[The entire page is 637 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
Related Topics
