...[W]hen on Friday, June 30, [1826,] Whitney and a small delegation of town leaders made a formal call on Adams, he received them in his upstairs library seated in his favorite armchair. They had come, they told the old patriot, to ask for a toast that they might read aloud at Quincy's celebration on the Fourth.
"I will give you," Adams said, "Independence forever!" Asked if he would like to add something more, he replied, "Not a word."
Until recently, the book linked (click the picture) was under the "Now Reading" heading (see the right side-bar). I have made several posts on Adams from the book. May still make a few more.
As to what it means, well you can take from it what you want. Consider that the toast was for the 50th anniversary of July 4, 1776. Only Jefferson, Adams and one other man were still living from the original set of signers, and that was a time when politicians (and particularly Adams) were known for being extremely long-winded.
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Are you an Adams history buff?
What does this post mean?
Until recently, the book linked (click the picture) was under the "Now Reading" heading (see the right side-bar). I have made several posts on Adams from the book. May still make a few more.
As to what it means, well you can take from it what you want. Consider that the toast was for the 50th anniversary of July 4, 1776. Only Jefferson, Adams and one other man were still living from the original set of signers, and that was a time when politicians (and particularly Adams) were known for being extremely long-winded.