The relationship between [John] Adams and [Tomas]…

[John] Adams was the best and most colorful stylist among the Founders. Although [Tomas] Jefferson is widely regarded as the smoothest writer, Adams is…

— Gordon S. Wood

The Declaration [of Independence] was a committee report, and [Tomas] Jefferson was simply the draftsman. [John] Adams's crucial role in bringing about independence in…

— Gordon S. Wood

[John Adams and Tomas Jefferson] shared experience in 1775 - 1776 in bringing about the separation from Britain and their service in Europe cemented…

— Gordon S. Wood

[John Adams] is impressed with [Tomas] Jefferson's learning, but noted his silence during the debates in the Congress: "I never heard him utter three…

— Gordon S. Wood

After [Tomas] Jefferson's defeat of [John] Adams in the presidential election of 1800, they didn't communicate with one another for more than a decade.

— Gordon S. Wood

I think [John's Adams] descriptions of the personalities of [Benjamin] Franklin and [Tomas] Jefferson and others were pretty accurate. It is only when he…

— Gordon S. Wood

A mutual friend, Benjamin Rush, brought [Tomas Jefferson and John Adams] together in 1812, and they went on to exchange letters for the rest…

— Gordon S. Wood

[John Adams] always felt that his contribution to bringing about independence went unappreciated, especially after the 1790s when [Tomas] Jefferson began to be lauded…

— Gordon S. Wood

[John] Adams's perception of Europe, and especially France, was clearly different than [Tomas] Jefferson's. For Jefferson, the luxury and sophistication of Europe only made…

— Gordon S. Wood

More than any other figure in our history [Tomas] Jefferson is responsible for the idea of American exceptionalism.

— Gordon S. Wood

Again and again [Tomas] Jefferson deftly sidesteps many of [John] Adams's often provocative remarks. They both felt the correspondence, which was written for posterity,…

— Gordon S. Wood

[Tomas] Jefferson believed that the United States was a chosen nation with a special responsibility to spread democracy around the world.

— Gordon S. Wood

By 1782 [John Adams] had come to feel for [Benjamin] Franklin "no other sentiments than Contempt or Abhorrence."

— Gordon S. Wood

[John] Adams never hid his jealousy and resentment of the other Founders, especially Benjamin Franklin.

— Gordon S. Wood

[Tomas] Jefferson is more out of fashion, both because of his views on race, where he's properly questioned, that part of his legacy, but…

— Jeffrey Rosen