Vice President John Adams' First Tie-Breaking Vote

1st Vice President John Adams' First tie-breaking vote was early into the first year of the Washington administration. Adams was known for protecting the authority of the President, for he had his eye on the Presidency.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

For those commenting on the "What"? I get it now. I was high during the editing.

[@samg7646]

lmao

[@philswaim392]

Okay i want what you hadm if it took ya several months to come down from that high and understand this, i wanna hit off that

[@xChemistryFTWx]

You can hardly be blamed, I always found it to be a weird line.

[@electrictroy2010]

Seemed obvious to me: “There is only one breath of one mortal, between me and it (the presidency).” - He summarized the role of VP very accurately ,

[@ke11yke11z]

😅😅😅😅😅 appreciate the honesty I'd need a little cbd myself to last through those senate "hearings"

[@ricashbringer9866]

"There is only one breath of one mortal between me and it." If the President died, then the powers of the President would fall on the Vice President. And Adams would want the same thing in the position.

[@rcreynolds6186]

This scene shows so clearly why the American system of checks and balances was so necessary, and why it is even more necessary today.

[@ethanstump]

Too much balance leads to stagnation however, which is why there's always a deciding factor. The problem nowadays that we have isn't that there is chaos where there shouldn't be, but that there is order where it shouldn't. Chaos goes wherever it goes, and to stop change from happening is to disrespect not only chaos, but order as well.

[@joeydoherty368]

@@ethanstumpThe flaw though with opposing checks and balances is it ignores the need for adequate representation across the board. National politics are stagnant because of the polarization of public opinions and not an ineffective design of government.

[@bjjbkb403]

Means if Washington were to die during term, Adams would assume the presidency.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

I get it now.

[@orelas167]

More like a quip that superhero Washington's on his last gasp,

[@LordBloodraven]

The Vice President is always a heartbeat away from needing a heartbeat.

[@doug2496]

Funny that he became president right after washington anyways

[@jadapinkett1656]

@@TheAmericanCrusader That you at the end dude? Cute as fuck.

[@southtexasprepper1837]

I so loved the Mini-Series "John Adams." Paul Giamatti's portrayal of John Adams was great. He brought the 2nd President of The United States to life.

[@The105ODST]

I just love how the video has the rules in the constitution, the reason why the rule exists, the precedent that is set and use of the precedent being used in the end. Outstanding job in showing why the constitution exists.

[@danielpierik6631]

Fun fact: Jefferson, the writer of the constitution, had the opinion that the constitution should have been left intentionally vague so it can be amended every election cycle. It's not a holy manuscript, it's there for us to cross out stuff and to write shit back in if we want.

[@jacobg8640]

@@danielpierik6631 Uh the writer of the Constitution would be James Madison, Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.

[@abehambino]

@@danielpierik6631 no, it’s really not, at least not as lightly as you would like us to believe. Yes, it can be amended, but that’s intentionally difficult to do. The vagueness of the Constitution is not about leaving it to interpretation, but limiting powers of the federal government. This too was by design. It was intended to have a very narrow focus so as to not allow the federal government to trample on the rights of individuals. In fact, if you read the constitution prior to the late 19th century amendments, you will find very little that concerns the every day lives of the average citizens. The notion that it is vague as to give the federal government a free reign to do whatever it wants came much later, and not only goes against what’re original intent was by the founders, but also is perhaps the greatest threat to our individual liberties and the source of so many of the problems our nation faces today.

[@j-mshistorycorner6932]

@@abehambino Which threat to our liberties?

[@sabrewolf4129]

@@j-mshistorycorner6932 The 2nd Amendment, The first amendment, the 5th amendment, etc etc etc.

[@paulw3747]

What a show! The writing is impeccable.

[@roger111ify]

Great, great, great show....a must for your children that way they see the sacrifice that our fathers had to endure and maybe have American fall in love with America once again....John Adams is one of my heroes

[@jpsarver5514]

Until you see how even then their fight for justice only included white men. Abigail Adams was so clever and she was never allowed in those circles. Imagine what our nation would be now if they dealt with the ugly ramifications of slavery then. Instead of kicking it down the csn for centuries. They had great ideals but they were hampered by cowardice, prejudice and apathy.

[@roger111ify]

@@jpsarver5514 what are you talking about, do you know how hard nation building was and is; and if you believe is that easy where were you in helping the rebuilding of IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, not at local level like a town or city but as a whole country, with different viewpoints, different ideologies, and not to mention the vast area the US; FYI no smartphones to help communicate any ideas within seconds. It would take decades and the willingness of the people to follow the rule of law. yes slavery was a travesty but all civilizations had slavery ( Aztecs, mayans, Roman's. ect) and I think our forefathers priority was to build a nation fast after a war, because due to diminished resources this newly form republic would be weak to another attack. FYI PARTNER, THE US WAS THE ONLY NATION TO FIGHT WITHIN TO END SLAVERY, NO OTHER CIVILIZATION EVER DID THAT!

[@cormacmccann7642]

​@@roger111ify .."THE US WAS THE ONLY NATION TO FIGHT WITHIN TO END SLAVERY, NO OTHER CIVILIZATION EVER DID THAT!" Thast not true, Britian did that. France did that. Multiple others did that.

[@roger111ify]

@@cormacmccann7642 Hey partner, thank you for trying to correct me with false ideology. Let me prove it for you, please provide the name of WARs with dates were these other countries supposedly fought to end slavery....Answer NONE! In 1833 Great Britain passed a law through Parliament for the abolition of Slavery. But no Wars or Battles. Not to mention the atrocities the empire did in their colonies after the abolition like sudan, india, Bermuda, Anguilla, ect... As for French they abolished slavery in 1848 again through their Parliament, NO WARS WERE FOUGHT! so where are you getting your information? The US was and is the only country to fight a civil WAR ( NOT A BATTLE) to end slavery, and for you to say other wise you insult African American Men that fought and died fighting for their freedom like in 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Hey partner, i study history because its my job not to repeat the mistakes of the past, word of advise to you dont just say what they want you to say; study, evaluate, and use critical thinking skills to see the truth.

[@roger111ify]

@J DV Yes but was not all Americans like modern day Stupid schools teach, if you understand the truth of the War, then you realize that the true evils of the American slavery came from the Democratic/ Racist democrats from the South. Why because the north was industrialized and the south was not. In other words machines and technology made slavery obsolete but in the south it was cheaper to maintain slaves than to industrialized they were stuck in their old ways. Did you know that the Republican party became a party to systemticaly end slavery, I bet you did not know that. Look , all these anti American propaganda that is tought in school is garbage, it was not about the north against the south it was all about the racist policies that Democrats implemented to control people physical at that time.....and look at them now,the control the uneducated through emotional manipulations Still selling racist ideology for power, and you think that the parties switch in the 60's during the great society act, well do the research and you will see that is not true (fyi SENATOR Robert Bird a KKK Grand Wizard) at all just more propaganda to muddy their racist philosophy. This is the best nation in the world from the eyes of an Immigrant like myself we have made mistakes but we have corrected those mistakes, and the Democratic party seems to be always the party that starts these mistakes.

[@RandomBowlerDude]

This scene is closer to what happened in the House of Representatives over the Jay treaty. That was a very contentious debate. The Senate passed the Jay treaty 20-10. Adams did have to cast a tie breaker in 1794, but that was in opposition to a trade embargo on the British. Trying to keep the United States neutral has been a problem since George Washington's presidency and persists to this very day.

[@mbdulka]

America's North East coast is part of the Anglo-Axis with Britain ... we've never been truly independent of Britain.

[@RandomBowlerDude]

@@mbdulka That's not true. The British subverted America in 1913 with the Federal Reserve. We really were on our own from 1784 until 1913. You might have heard of the Rothschild family? That's who controls the Federal Reserve and money in this world.

[@livethefuture2492]

The United States of today is not the the fledgling United States of the 1780s, The modern US is a global superpower, and the center of the world's economy, it cannot afford to be neutral. But back then when the US was only a newly independent republic barely keeping itself together, it made perfect sense to stay out of conflicts as much as possible.

[@mstevens94]

@@livethefuture2492 That is the reality, even though I wish the US would take a more non-interventionist foreign policy view. Since the world's economy ebbs and flows off what the US does and what their leadership decides with policy. I wish instead that the US would pick its battles more wisely than plunge the US headlong into conflicts that can quickly become catalysts for a World War. The US needs a better record of making decisions concerning a region's geopolitical landscape than trying to make a region "safe for democracy." People in such a region may have little to no understanding of democracy, let alone what American "democracy" is.

[@vult07]

"Falls to his rotundity" 💀

[@foolslayer9416]

1:06 It's a comfort to know that the cesspool of American politics hasn't changed at all. Democracy, fair but inefficient.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Facts

[@pieceofschmidtgamer]

We aren't a Democracy, not then nor now. Democracy only leads to oligarchy. An oligarchy where the elites of the country are divorced from the interests of said country.

[@siler7]

Inefficiency is actually intentionally built into the government. It's set up so that it will be difficult for the government to gain too much power over the people. It comes from the idea that people and states should govern themselves much more than a federal government should.

[@FanimusMaximus]

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

[@danpierce8862]

Could you imagine how much would not have gotten done in American History if Adams didn't pass that?!😂😂

[@Nebulasecura]

I gotta give John Adams soooo much credit for not taking shit from either side. He would be goddamned ashamed of how far we’ve pushed these political parties today

[@woodrobin]

He literally would: "There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties . . . This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution." -- John Adams in a letter to Jonathan Jackson, 1780.

[@xhagast]

@@woodrobin The nation at the time was dancing on the edge of a knife and people were still up to nonsense, let alone radical ideologies. Sure things are bad right now, but they were also BAD in Lincoln's time. And adding more parties to the mix would not have helped much, in Spain we had several parties in the 19th century and we almost lost two dynastic wars because opposition parties would undermine the government(a general had to fight without permission to save Spain). I respect politicians who REALLY had skin in the game, they may be wrong but at least they are not playing.

[@timothyhouse1622]

Right, because it isn't like TWO of the founding fathers disagreed so badly they had a DUEL and one of them DIED or anything. It also isn't like there was such heated political shenanigans over slavery that a freaking WAR broke out. But no, it is only fucked up TODAY. Sit down.

[@Nebulasecura]

@@timothyhouse1622 way to go grandpa you took my comment completely out of context. Ofc there was serious issues then 🤦‍♀️

[@alexlehrersh9951]

Adams was a extremist himself so he would throw a stone in the glass house

[@vincekilloran843]

The film captures the slight Scottish burr that historians reckon marked the speech of many Americans in the colonial and early republic. (Some argue that it only faded in the late 19th century.)

[@kingmalric]

Not Scottish; but rather the West Country. But even describing it as a West Country accent is slightly misleading. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, almost all English speakers in both England and America spoke with a "rhotic" accent - which is what many of the actors in this miniseries use to great effect in their roles. Nowadays, only a few parts of Britain (the West Country most notably) still speak with a rhotic accent, which is why I refer to it as such.

[@daftydave5349]

Scottish accent 😂 that’s West Country - the opposite side of Britain

[@daftydave5349]

@The505Guys the thumbs ups will be from a bunch of Americans that think they have Scottish ancestry. Kind of like ‘Irish’ Joe Biden

[@gardenvape4021]

Thanks for the clip. 👍🏼🇺🇸

[@douglasrau5094]

So weird to see a Senate that only has about a dozen members. So small.

[@fleetadmiralperry3389]

HA HA well in 1795 yes there was a very big difference between the number of senators we have today compared to then

[@JohnnyDeur]

@@Spearca and Senators were SELECTED not Elected so they wouldn't be subject to outside sources bribing them.

[@hawkeyeten2450]

Well, they started with 13 states and added two more during Washington's presidency, so there were about two and a half dozen. Still a MUCH smaller Senate than today though.

[@flanagamer]

@@Spearca you mean a lot smaller than now 😅

[@philswaim392]

Whats so hard to understand about what adams said?

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

I was high okay?

[@seancssu]

@@TheAmericanCrusader Jewish?

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

@@seancssu huh? No

[@siler7]

What's so hard to understand about apostrophes and capitalization?

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

@@siler7 pot makes me retarded

[@AlwaysSomeone]

Politics hasn’t changed, it just got bigger

[@redadmiralofvalyria867]

I mean, when a COUNTRY gets bigger, the POLITICS grows WITH IT

[@chuchulainn9275]

Paul Giamatti's screams are always so fun to watch.

[@1luiszepol]

Yes my friend. He was direct...no filters

[@cow_tools_]

Is that the Barry Lyndon theme in the background?

[@johns5263]

I love the opening quote from the constitution. I don't even think they teach it in schools anymore. If we followed the const like we're supposed to. We wouldn't be going through what we are now. Anything american revolutionary gives me chills, it's astonishing. That and i live 20 minutes from the Battle of saratoga.

[@danpierce8862]

The only thing seperating the position of vice president from president is wether or not the president takes their next breath.

[@kryptonianknight2344]

Unfortunately that wasn’t knowledge at the time and poor Tyler got heat over it after assuming power

[@EyeLean5280]

That final line means that if the president were to breathe his last, then, as vice president, he, John Adams, would rise to the presidency. Therefore, he chooses to vote with the side that gives the presidential office a prerogative he might have to avail himself of someday, should the current president die.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Read the pinned comment

[@user-gh1dl8rl5o]

A US Senator trying to throw hands with the opposition? Glad to see the Senate hasn’t changed lmao (look up Senator Markwayne)

[@MrNuclearturtle]

"The Deciding vote falls to this chair!!" "Falls to his rotunda..." ouch

[@pengwin_]

"...the duke of Braintree."

[@mirzaahmed6589]

*rotundity (meaning a fat person). Rotunda is a dome on top of a building.

[@WhatAHorribleNight]

Seems like a cool show but why does every f*cking scene have a dutch angle lol?

[@MMYUMMYGaming]

Thomas Hooper lmao does the same thing in Les Miserables

[@emilycupcakegirl367]

1:09 my dog 1:14 me

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Lmao same

[@ISIO-George]

Adams was not obligated to support Washington's position, as at the time the President and Vice President were not elected as a single ticket. After the Civil War a similar law was passed (Tenure of Office Act), and was a precipitating cause that led to the impeachment on Andrew Johnson. In a decision concerning another issue of presidential authority, in 1926 the Supreme Court implied (but did not rule) the Tenure of Office Act had been unconstitutional (It had been repealed in 1887).

[@robertmonaghan5420]

It's Now Curious How so many people who couldn't give a crap about American Politics become experts on its origins, how it expanded, what present partys are (there were none at the signing of the Constitution), and now dictate how politics should go forward.

[@stanislausklim7794]

If I was President of the Senate, I'd be like JA in this video. Just sitting there reading a newspaper. There's not exactly anything else to do, anyway haha.

[@marksusername]

Lol I like how you put makemebad35 at the end 😂

[@michaelriddick7116]

"🤔 What?" 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@scottaznavourian540]

Wow trying for an early tenure of office act.

[@williamdevito7253]

i like that the president can remove their own cabinet members

[@lord_tylor6866]

Was that foil arm and hog in the cast?😂

[@mirzaahmed6589]

Dooooomdaaaaah

[@Ailsworth]

Oh I see we have a Howard Zinn fan making John Adams videos. It's incongruous.

[@sudcciv6443]

The whole "drama" of Adams breaking the tie of the Jay Treaty DID NOT OCCUR! Treaties are required to be a adopted with a 2/3 vote! The "Presiding officer's" vote is NOT NEEDED! Not in 1795, not now!

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

First of all, calm down. This is a Wendy's. Second, yes most people who know their history are aware of that. I was using the footage to talk about the Cabinet removal vote.

[@sudcciv6443]

@@TheAmericanCrusader a "Wendy's"? Cabinet Removal Vote? What "Alternative Reality" do you post from?

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

@@sudcciv6443 Did you actual watch the whole fucking thing?

[@JohnnyDeur]

@@TheAmericanCrusader hey you watch your god damn mouth pal, patriots should not use that type of language

[@mirzaahmed6589]

@@sudcciv6443 "Sir, this is a Wendy's" is a joke/meme used to remind people they are being too serious or pedantic, which you are.

[@kylewolnik1789]

This is way out of context. The voting was for the ratification of The Jay Treaty, which is very different than the removal of cabinet officers. While Adams may have took part in securing the firing of cabinet officers strictly within the realm of the President, it is moot because the show moved on to analyze The Jay Treaty gridlock. Moreover, Maclay saying that Adams cast his vote with the President is a remark that Adams looks up to acquiring the Presidency at some point. To which Adams retorts that it is his duty to look up to it, as there is only one person whom can be a victim of unfortunate circumstances, which would make Adams either the acting or actual President. So, while the removal of cabinet officers would aid him, their banter is not about that aspect. Instead, it is only about The Jay Treaty which Washington wants to keep the peace, and as the next person in line who may have to take over at any moment, so does Adams because he does not want to be drawn into a conflict.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

But Adams never voted on the Jay Treaty as it passed 20/10 and he wouldn't be able to vote on the treaty as the Constitution required a 2/3 majority

[@thorpeaaron1110]

Actually in that time breaking vote scene they were discussing the ratification of the Jay Treaty with Great Britain

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

I know. I used footage from that historically inaccurate scene to fit the video

[@thorpeaaron1110]

@@TheAmericanCrusader OH ok.

[@whoknowsbb5705]

What were they voting on?

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Watch the video. Whether the President can fire people with/without Senate approval.

[@L1berty1776]

The difference between a president who holds power and a vice president who doesnt have any is just that (vice) a position that nobody elected but someone can become the leader of a nation without a single vote

[@sonicallenjosh2514]

The British parliamentary model may be instructive here

[@jnagarya519]

John Adams was the foremost constitutionalist among the Founders. He wrote the Massachusetts constitution, which was the model for the US Constitution.

[@EGarrett01]

He also put newspaper editors in jail for criticizing him.

[@jnagarya519]

@@EGarrett01 And it was the CONGRESS that made the law making that legal. There was also a CONTEXT that affected everyone concerned. Recommend you see the HBO miniseries "John Adams" in order to arrive at a more balanced view. And before that see "1776" -- John Adams lead the movement for independence while the "Conservatives"/slave owners opposed it.

[@EGarrett01]

@@jnagarya519He put newspaper editors in jail for criticizing him.

[@jnagarya519]

@@EGarrett01 AGAIN: it was made LEGAL for him to do so by the separate branch of gov't CONGRESS. So you want to blame him as if he were the only one responsible for the existence of that power. And AGAIN: there was a CONTEXT that persuaded CONGRESS to make the law AUTHORIZING the jailing.

[@EGarrett01]

@@jnagarya519A constitutionalist is someone who believes in and advocates the constitution, but Adams clearly didn't respect or understand the first amendment.

[@pjg19751]

For Christ sake, do you really not understand what Adams was saying at the end? You don't understand line of succession?

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Look at pinned comment

[@euanstokes2828]

2:15 in other words, there is only the fact that Washington is breathing between him and it, and if Washington were to die he'd have to become president.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

I get it now. I was high when editing

[@skytowergnome4664]

Must have been the most frustrating time of his life.

[@llongdong]

Old Man Adams always aggravated about something or another. He ort to follow the lead of his cousin Samuel and down a 12 pack every now and then. Lighten him up a little.

[@thomas.parnell7365]

Must of been interesting time only examples of stable government being UK some European powers to copy . Unlike today where any new nation need would have at least 100 nations constitutions to examine and learn from.

[@petec3185]

Mr Pinckney wanted all the smoke

[@FBI_Surveillance]

Was the “What?” Questioning the Vice President being but a “breath away” from the Presidency? Initially, the Secretary of State was to become President if the sitting President was to become incapacitated.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Read pinned comment

[@alexistrebexis3195]

He said 15, not 9.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Yeah the show is full of historical innacuracies and I can't change the audio

[@jnagarya519]

13 states, 2 Senators each, = 26 Senators. 15 for, 15 against, = 30 Senators, therefore 15 states.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Some senators abstained from voting.

[@jnagarya519]

@@TheAmericanCrusader According to the person who posted the clip it was evenly divided 9 to 9. But according to Adams it was evenly divided 15 to 15. Which one was correct?

[@nasisimi1]

I think what Adams also meant with the 1 breath statement is that the President has to be able to fire the VP or cabinet members because the President's own safety could depend on it. Back in those days the VP could request a duel with the President and winner would keep or take the top spot. Or even today if the President felt threatened by cabinet members.

[@LordTalax]

Use shorter words for the kids, I guess.

[@markkringle9144]

What? If Washington (the mortal) dies, Adams is President.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

I get it now. I was high when I edited that part.

[@charleskeefer3043]

The treaties over the Zulu is where you are like that was made by the way I have to get the gins of Olive and Yeast.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

I'm sorry... What?

[@bigj1905]

Ahhh, the Vice President. One of the most useless political positions a person can achieve.

[@wkcia]

Until it isn't.

[@DonMeaker]

Based on the history of the Roman Republic, having two consuls of equal power was a recipe for endless and repeated civil war. The strengthening of the presidency, and the weakening of the vice-president was designed to make such civil war less likely. In that goal it was an unqualified success. Further, fifteen Vice Presidents eventually became president is quite long, and that list begins with John Adams and ends with the current usurper.

[@siler7]

Not at all. Many VP's have done a lot of diplomatic work, and many have become presidents themselves.

[@bigj1905]

@@siler7 Well, sure, but everything the VP does is basically either: Redundant/Can be done by someone else. Is used as propaganda for the President and his party. Is only useful if the President dies or if their is a tie in the Senate.

[@davecrupel2817]

It's remarkable that the VP has broken a tie vote only *two times* in this country's history. Remarkable.

[@markkringle9144]

Actually, if you check Senate records, it's been cast 276 times. Kamala has already cast 8.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

@@markkringle9144 I think he's trolling

[@mirzaahmed6589]

No. Tie votes happen all the time.

[@elrjames7799]

Is the 'what' comment really idiotic or simply uninformed: the last breath the President takes puts the Vice in Office.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Read the pinned comment

[@elrjames7799]

@@TheAmericanCrusader 🤗

[@Whatsinmypocket]

Is english your second language? How could you struggle to understand what John Adams said?

[@dc4296]

"falls to his rotindity" lol

[@chrisd1773]

I love Glenn Beck's portrayal of our first Vice-president here.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Down voted cuz I despise Beck.

[@dannyelish2131]

Me office of the vice president and office of the president. John Adams is the best. Well done.

[@rustyshackleford1114]

And 200+ years later, we have Kamala Harris. WTF ?!

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Better than a idiot evangelical Christian who thinks electroshock therapy can cure homosexuality