亞當斯向他的太太阿比蓋爾形容副總統的生涯「是人類創造的工作中最無意義的工作」，在他當選總統之後，亞當斯終於又能重新找到工作的意義、伸展一下腦袋的「肌肉」，當然也更能發揮他個人的理念。

亞當斯總統決定將政府從費城搬到華盛頓，於1800年執行這些決策、並於童年創立國會圖書館（Library of Congress）。亞當斯相當受到尊重，但曾面臨一連串的外交政策危機，最終讓他在政治發展上身陷孤立無援的處境。

在1800年的總統選舉，亞當斯落敗、將總統之位拱手讓給下伊任總統湯瑪士傑夫森。

Adams described the position to his wife as "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived." Once he was elected president, Adams was finally able to feel relevant again and flex his brain "muscles," not to mention his ego.

President Adams implemented the decision to move the government from Philadelphia to Washington and exercised leadership with such decisions as creating the Library of Congress, both in 1800. Adams was well respected, but faced a series of foreign policy crises, which eventually isolated him politically.

His actions ultimately cost him the election to Thomas Jefferson in 1800.

3 / 3 頁