SPC
Chuck Hagel 08
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« on: November 15, 2014, 07:13:58 PM » |
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« edited: November 15, 2014, 07:17:30 PM by SPC »
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The Adams presidency was an awkward one, with outgoing President Jefferson seeking to curtail Federalist influence on policy by appointing many Republican partisans to positions in the judiciary. This resulted in considerable controversy, particularly when Secretary of State John Marshall refused to deliver a commission to a Republican appointee. While the Republican Supreme Court was expected to rule in favor of the appointee, the Court made a decisive move in favor of limited government by declining to rule on the case on the basis that it was outside the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
Vice-President Burr also proved to be a thorn in President Adams's side, conducting illegal negotiations with Napoleon for the purchase of French Louisiana. Faced with a threat on the western frontier, Adams had no choice but to acquiesce to Burr's unauthorized land purchase, which former President Jefferson has criticized as unconstitutional. While there was an attempt by some moderate Federalists to put Burr on the ticket in order to win Republican voters, Adams refused to have any part in the ordeal. (Needless to say, the 12th Amendment was ratified after the cluster s of 1796 and 1800.)
Will Adams replicate his dubious 1800 victory, or was that just a fluke? Will Jefferson be the 18th century Grover Cleveland, or the 19th century Dino Rossi? The choice is yours.
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