I recently read that John Adams’ final words were “Thomas Jefferson survives.”
There is a certain amount of that which we might call dramatic irony (if it weren’t real life) in his words; in fact, Jefferson died a few hours before Adams.
There are, of course, pages and pages that have been written about the fascinating, unique relationship between Jefferson (TJ, I like to call him) and Adams. This is not going to be a part of those pages. But I have to note, for the record, that these last words of John Adams have sealed an image in my head of him as The Dude.
I know that, in context, it is actually Jefferson who is being framed as The Dude. But I really think it was Adams who was out there takin’ it easy for all us sinners. Jefferson never once took it easy.
