perhaps george washington and john adams fell into that category.expressing a religious doubt in their own writing, but did not try to slow it down in the public sphere. and then there's jefferson and not men who had three very lengthy debate in virginia about religious freedom after virginia and who really saw jefferson was a deist or at least unitarians, not of been considered a christian. madison i have no idea. i know she thought about religious liberty. i have no idea what you thought personally. but both of them believe that it's for religion and to the society if religion were considered something prior to the social contract and therefore not covered by the social contract. you entered into the leafs if you understood him or her to be in the state me to help or hinder. and i think that that view is more like without the constitution ended up and i think the supreme court has been moving us towards that view, but by no means in a straight line. >> host: this is a good example of framing collective intentions. so you outlined with several of t

and not even coming you know, john adams. you can see something john adams said in 1812 and something benjamin franklin said in 1750. put them together, they form just ask you what a biblical text of a single argument. >> host: is there a single argument towards eletes and how modern eletes have may be distorted kind of what the, you know these hallowed figures said a long time ago? >> guest: there is a lot of anger in their ridings for people like you and me. professors, people who ask you to see to intentionally distort the queen and precious truths of the founders in order to make them seem like less than, and whether it's talking about their own version of sleeves and any time a liberal mentions that, they are going to get a very strong push back or the disagreements between -- we don't want our mythical figures to be disagreeing with each other all time. so, yeah. there is a sense that academics -- academics are very delegitimized in this right. just because somebody spent his or her life reading the primary text doesn't

it's no interest to me but john adams intended when he didn't write the constitution. i mean, it's because when we read the book we are sort of hard wired to want to think what does it mean, and that's not a very good way to look at a document that was created by 55 people in an intense compromise jonathan negotiating session, and that doesn't have a lot of intent. nobody just translated their intent into words the way that we help milken did. >> host: thank you for a very wonderful conversation. you've left us with some interesting lessons and things for us to talk about. good luck with your book. >> guest: thank you very much and for doing the interview. >> host: my pleasure. >> that was "after words" of which authors of the latest nonfiction books are interviewed by journalists, public policy makers, legislators and others familiar with the material. "after words" errors every weekend on booktv at 10 p.m. on saturday, 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. on sunday and 12 a.m. on monday. you can also watch "after words" online. qtr booktv.org and click on the "after words" in the book

that was andrew jackson versus john quincy adams. this question of, are we one nation or are we a bunch of states? this is what divided the federalist and anti-federalist in supportinsupportin g the constitution. is what divided the federalist with the republicans and the founding era. it divided the whig's. the republicans in the legs of the democrats of the next-generation. we have always had some people who see the united states primarily as a group of states in contact with each other and other people who see it as a union, and the administrative districts within that union. the idea that the founders had incoherent position about state rights. all of them thought the same thing, requires you to pretend that they didn't have elections back them. that is what their elections were about. >> host: antrum parties in different elections. >> guest: different parties wanted different things. i think generally the southerners were more confederated. they saw this mrsa compact and the northerners i think are more -- side is the nation. ha

abigail adams was in the crowd in the intersection and wrote to her husband, john, and said, it was crazy. after the declaration was read. everything british was ripped down and burned in the middle of the intersection immediately after the reading, including the unicorn that flank the eastside that was put up in 1881. but immediately it was one of the first few things that was ripped off the symbols of british authority and burned in the middle of the intersection. so a little rambunctious. in boston. it continued to be, but before that in 1770 come on march 5, the boston massacre happened just outside the intersection as well. something we're very all familiar with and something that bob allison contributed to in the book as well as his own book on that. but another rambunctious event in the city of boston. so just right outside this building itself. now we're going to turn to a panel discussion, which will be in the fashion of question and answer session. this mic in the middle of the aisle here is for you to step up to after questions to the panel. right now going to introduce you to

. >> john adams?got some good guesses. >> the winter is a president that was a president in the 1970s and his name, gerald ford. gerald ford was our longest lived president. he lived to be 93 years and 165 days old. >> that is interesting. >> yeah. so all sorts of incredible facts about every president. it is amazing stuff. gerald ford our longest lived president. number two. . >> is it ronald reagan? >> i'm cheating. >> i'm over here being impressed. >> it is right this in the camera. >> you are supposed to know not to look at that. ronald reagan, our number two oldest living president. >> he lived to be 93 and 45 days of tying gerald ford. you have to think back in the day, this particular president, john adams, as sarah so wisely guesstimated. john adams, we don't have any video of him. >> ee, we don't? >> we got to go with a portrait. >> you mean our tape library didn't have anything? >> president adams lived to be 90 years and 247 days. so applause to all three of them. they all had gray hair in

john adams came up with a bunch. caucus which he gets from an indian term. spec meaning to buy something on speculation. quixotic meaning in a matter of don quixote for. john quincy adams in the alien sedition act he came up with -- he needed a name for what was going on and came up with the word eggroll. that was his so you see in the early presidents, this ability to sort of watch things and write them down and use them. so when george washington in the oxford english dictionary fico in it today and look up the word tin can you'll find that is credited to george washington. bakery and bake were washington's words. washingtwashingt on came up with these words at a very early time when the bakery bakehouse like a smokehouse. it was the distillery and a bakehouse but in washington's diary he came up with bakery. so this was part of our early -- on it and of course the fact that we had webster to write this all down was amazing. webster comes up with his first dictionary in 1807 and there are two words that really bothered the british. those are congressional a

that was adams. john quincy adams when he was of pretty much, when we came to the alien and sedition acts, he came up with the term -- needed a name for what was going on, and he came up with the word "gag rule." that was his. so you see in the early presidents this ability to sort of watch things and write them down and use them. so when george washington in the oxford english dictionary if you go in there today and look up the word "tin can," you will find that that word is credited to george washington. bakery and bake were washington's words. washington came up with these words at a very early time when the bakery was a bakehouse like a smokehouse. it was a distill erie and there was a bakehouse, but then in washington's diary it became a bakery. so this was part of our early -- and, of course, the fact that we had webster to write this all down is rather amazing. webster comes up with, noah webster comes up with his first dictionary in 1807. there are two words that really, really bother the british

essays, but john adams called occurrences.indict in fact might be a reference, a concerted effort to boston pitcher x or waves at the time they called themselves to tell other newspapers in tongues but it is like to live in boston under the occupation of the british irony from 1768 to 1770. do you send out general occurrences or transactions every week, saying this horrible thing happened this week and a soldier was bad this week and here's what's happening with the soldiers on trial. those were not published in the boston papers because of course everybody in boston was supposed to know already. those% to new york and from the new york papers, they resent all of them democrats the chitosan eventually reprinted in boston. so that was an example of the very definite effort about one side of the political divide to use the power of the press to bring the sympathy of the entire seaboard for boston. you also talk about who financed that. well, it looks like william cooper, the boston town clerk was involved in writing some of thos

john adams came up with a bunch, caucus which he gets from an indian term. spec, meaning i something on speculation. don quixote, john quincy adams, when he was pretty much -- when it came to the alien and sedition acts, he came up with the word gag rule. so you see with the early presidents, this ability to sort of watch things and write them down and use them. so when george washington looked up the word and can, you'll find about word is accredited to george washington. washington came up with these words at a very early time. [inaudible] this is part of our early culture. of course, the fact that we had webster to write this all down is rather amazing. webster comes up with his first dictionary in 1807 and there are two words that really bother the british. congressional and presidential and they say that there is no reason you it should be in the dictionary. between 18 1807 1807 and a second edition, he knows that this is the stuff that is not in english dictionary at the time. there was the sort of democratic background. and there are things, for exampl

it was a quoted a little bit of john adams in 1769 in the diary he spends sunday even agent the print shop and samuel adams was there and a man named william davis and they were cooking up things from the newspaper. essay, what adams -- what john adams called the currents. and i think that might be a refer to a concerted effort they wore wigs at the time had done to tell other newspapers and other towns what it was like to be living in boston under the owngs of the british army from 1768 to 1770. they would sent out what they call the journal of transaction every week saying it happened. this soldier was this bad here is what is happening with the soldier on trial for this. those were not publish in the the boston paper. everybody in boston knew about it already. those were sent to new york and from the new york they were sent up awe done the coast. they were reprinted in boston. to bring the sympathy of the entire sea board to to boston. it looks like william cooper, was involved in writing some of those reports. samuel adams being paid by the montana house he was the work of the hou

john adams in the same era of the same year said jefferson's mind is poisoned with passion, prejudice and faction. hamilton said of jefferson, this is how well the work, hamilton said of jefferson that anyone who cares about the liberty of the country or welfare of the nation should look with great despair on jefferson's ascendance to the presidency and jefferson with a fairly formidable outreach to his friends said i will not separate the slander of a man whose history from the moment at which history can stoop to notice him is a tissue of mecca nation against the liberty of the country that is not only receive him and given him read but heaped honors on his head. hamilton responded that jefferson was a fanatic in politics and atheist in religion and in an anonymous level -- letter rider from the hamilton camp wrote i think you ought to get a damn kicking, you read headed son of a bitch. i know karl rove thinks he iohen! onoti the sandpild we were always going to be hounding me a clue what you can with what we have. and his answer, wonderfully was in theory, you would want to go bac

there is no love lost between jackson and john quincy adams. jackson's supporters don't call john quincy adams are excellently -- your excellency. they call him their fraudulent seat. so it's this huge scandal. to the point where rachael becomes increasingly religious with every passing year. health diminishes to the point where now all these scandals about her are really affecting her mental-health and a physical off. she is hoping and praying that jackson doesn't win, the she does not to go to the white house so that her scandal becomes a national story and not just -- she's helping, writing letters. as a water has been to win, does one go there. i'll say, be careful what you wish for. right after jackson was the election, before the inauguration and 1829, she dies a broken heart. jackson says my opponents, they tried the killer. she's buried on christmas eve in the gown is going to where to the inaugural. jackson goes to the inauguration , and there sell to pay. says that my wife, this angel who would ever given my enemies. the scandal contin

much more worried when there were plans to put together a presidential militia in the 1790s that john adams and alexander hamilton might use to suppress people. he would rather ere on the interest of the many rather than the interest of the few. and that was the defining difference between himself and hamilton. >> we'll take a quick break here and be right back with more from author john meacham. >>> and we're back with more from john meacham on his new biography. people because of your book will be reflecting on his life, will learn about thomas jefferson, if they haven't. the role of a biography like this in modern day washington and modern day leadership could be what, do you think? as the president sets off into a second term in such a contentious political time. >> yeah. well, mark twain said history doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes. and i think history disease rhyme. i think jefferson looked back to greece and rome to understand partisanship in his own era. we look back to the founding to try to understand it. what you learn is that there are some perennial principles. to quote je

. >> samuel adams was such a remarkable revolutionary leader, and so is his cousin, john. >> yes. >> could you tell us a bit about the different styles of leadership and their different approaches to the issues of the day, how they thought the movement should go forward towards independence? thanks. >> well, the truth is it was a little easier for john adams, because of what sam adams had done before him. and sam adams had been called by a number of people the actual father of the country because he was the chief spokesperson, and policymaker for the sons of liberty. the sons of liberty separate cells really of radical people, opposed to the british, certain, finally a revolution was necessary. that sprung up almost independently across the colonies in connecticut, in new york, in pennsylvania, in south carolina. and sam adams became the chief letter writer, the political strategist and stories told of a neighborhood walk by his house at 2:00 in the morning and he would see the light in the sands of study out there, and now that his pen was going to scribble -- trying to lead us towa

john adams and riding by their creative certain inalienable rights. that balance of the role of the divine providence and our own rationality and reason and consent of the government informing our government, that type of balance created this new in one bastionwe created ba done marku devotee liste ..d to try to find the common ground and happened at the constitutional convention after they had come back for the last time still measuring the gulf and they're fighting in philadelphia over the big state little sticky issue the connecticut compromise has gone down in flames. finally franklin gets up and he does a speech about humility. he says the older i get, something strange happens to me. i realize i'm wrong at times to be he said you are going to get old and it's great to happen to you. you will realize that times you are wrong so we should listen to the person next to us andry to so may be we should each listen to the person next to us and tried to find thec common ground n proportional representation and he has them line up and sign it. he says we

john quincy adams, featured here is, i think, a kind of iconic here wrote of the amistad case. i must tell you, he played an externally important role, but nothing happened without the actions of this man and those other 52 africans on board the vessel. theirs was the actions that said everything else in motion. so i wanted to return to that. i also wanted to question what had seemed to me to become one of the main arguments about the amistad case. that was, it was a great success story about the american legal system. the fact that the supreme court could rule in their favor proved that the american legal system was the hero of the case alongside john quincy adams to which i ask, do you mean the same legal system that was holding to of a half million people in bondage at that moment? that is the hero of the story? i don't think so. i think we have to go back and look at the rebellion itself and especially to look at those africans who made the rebellion. so we have in both history and film is actually very good history from above, history that stresses the likes of john quincy

they asked the most prominent citizens, john adams center at the young republic is the opposite independencethey ask them for a toast to be bad to the celebrants on july the fourth, 1826 and adam replies independence forever. he says not a word. i have nothing more to say except independence forever. [applause] >> in terms of principal actors, the united states seems to be leading the charge into nine to sovereignty to other nations, look in that liberal democrats such as hillary clinton in kosovo, serbia and also neocons in the invasion on iraq and most recently the globalized, obama and the invasion of libya. so what my question is, here we have the united states denying the sovereignty of other nations and that i think is a problem of the two parties, both which are socially were parties. >> okay, in my book i distinguish between sovereignty in general, which is westphalian sovereignty, which would be the sovereignty of the burmese junta are any autocratic state and democratic sovereignty, which i call american, but there are other democratic sovereignty states. i make that distinction in

jefferson, president of the united states, and on the other, john adams is no more.hat celebration, the union and be out, -- the unit in the out, that is what we are looking for, the relationship. you can look at these inaugurations as touchstones along our national narrative of the changes that have taken place. some of them are technological. the question of george washington writing in a carriage, somebody else in a car, the introduction of radio, television and the internet to record these things -- there are different steps along the way to record, but a continuity -- a kind of reassuring continuity that is important for holidays. you know that thanksgiving in our houses like this. we serve mashed potatoes this way. we have our inaugurations this way. there is very much the same kind of spirit. i pulled a few simple things to give you a sense of the taste and feel of inaugurations. one aspect of inaugurations really from the very beginning is the inaugural ball. these are celebrations in which this candidate, now president, is introduced to the public as well as

peaceful and the guy leaving office didn't want to even talk to some of the guys coming in, namely john adams, jefferson, john quincy adams and andrew jackson. >> it's a big marker the way the presidency and even the inauguration as a major reflection of the american presidency in american culture has shown the development of the idea of america across times. the very beginning and the first couple of decades this is probably the most rancorous period of american politics in our history where you have the guys going together in the battles for the white house. whereas we might be more negative about the tenor of political debate niece days but in the end it -- these days but in the end it comes down to a peaceful transition of what you'll see today. the jowndz tones are gone -- the undertones are gone. >> it's completely evolved from a ceremonial standpoint. from washington there were a few people and as we moved through the centuries, wow. hollywood is here. it's a big evolution over time. >> colonial williamsburg we like to talk about the idea of america, a lot about the founding principles

coming up, much younger 49er fans, courtesy of john adams, you see the twins there held up with grandmandpa. and finally, this is amanda, she's a 7th generation san franciscoen and a proud dad says she has this dress on, probably five times a week. and we know what she'll be wearing one week from sunday. the forecast has changed for sunday. live look outside on the radar currently shows mainly dry conditions. they are testing those new bay lights. looking good. we'll take a look at that forecast coming up. ,,,,,, [ woman ] my boyfriend and i were going on vacation, so i used my citi thankyou card to pick up some accessories. a new belt. some nylons. and what girl wouldn't need new shoes? and with all the points i've been earning, i was able to get us a flight to our favorite climbing spot, even on a holiday weekend. ♪ things are definitely... looking up. [ male announcer ] with no blackout dates, you can use your citi thankyou points to travel whenever you want. visit citi.com/thankyoucards to apply. francisco's legendary twin s turned eig >>> surviving sister of san francisco's legenda

john adams in philadelphia. chester arthur in new york. teddy roosevelt in buffalo. calvin coolidge in plymouth, vermont, and l.b.j. in dallas. james polk's inauguration was the first to be covered using the telegraph and war enharding's parade was the first to use cars. buchanan's inauguration was the first one photographed and william mckin le's was the first filmed. hoover's was the first in a movie newsreel. the first to be televised was harry truman and the first streams in the internets was bill clinton's second. lincoln's parade was the first to include african-americans acknowledged wilson's was the first to include women. bad weather moved some indoors. grants touched it out in 16 degrees and jack kennedy in 20 degrees without an overcoat. f.d.r.'s inauguration was the first held in january after a constitutional amendment moved the date up from march. finally more people witnessed brom's first than any other event ever held in washington. >> wow, i love that stuff. chris: thanks to our producer for that great, great great product there. anyway, you had some

john adams took his oath in philadelphia. and of course president obama will take his second oath ceremoniously this afternoon right here in washington. what sort of weather are we looking at on this monday inauguration day? while we look at the day planner, temps in the 30s. a mix of clouds and sunshine. the winds which aren't too bad this morning south, southeast at 8. by 11:00 we'll increase some in the 10 to 15 range this afternoon gusting to 20 as high temperatures get 41 by 1:00. we'll be 44 for the high and still 43 by 5:00. but by 5:00, especially north of town, a rain or snow shower will be possible. i'm leaning more toward the snow showers with colder air moving in. you can see the snow showers south of pittsburgh this morning. they're tracking to the east, northeast. they'll stay along or north of the pennsylvania turnpike. we've seen a few clouds develop with the winds blowing off the ridgetops here with that west, southwesterly flow aloft. temperatures are relatively mild. i'm just looking at some of the numbers.

this week we're in boston, once home to some of our country's most famous patriots: samuel adams, john adamsd paul revere. we'll take a look at a controversial engraving produced by revere later on in the show, but now, let's see what treasures our experts have discovered.

george washington and john adams, a mob gathered outside washington's homa, denouncing his neutrality. host: we're looking at the veterans affairs secretary. the military, department of defense playing a big role in tomorrow's ceremony. guest: dwight eisenhower took very personally nixon's defeat. he said he knew how the condemned man felt, watching the scaffolding being built. host: people are talking about vice president biden in 2016. is that the measure of a successful presidency? guest: it is, but history argues that the last time that happened install martin van buren. arguably, americans were voting for a third reagan term albeit kinder and gentler. one of the problems for the first president bush was, he spent the first four years with the true reaganites looking over his shoulder. it complicated his political host: during his acceptance speech in 1988, he talked about a kinder, gentler nation, nancy reagan said, kinder or gentler than what? that is how the story goes. [laughter] a caller from hastings, england. welcome to the program. caller: the speech that in winston church

association, i have an opportunity to choose the theme for our law day, and i chose the legacy of john adams from concord to guantanamo, because every high-school student had to think about why it is our obligation to defend those who have ideas different than our own. why we live in a constitutional democracy. a constitutional democracy is the difference of two words, each of which are two letters. that is the rule "of" law, and the rule "by" law. the rule by law as when a majority get together and get -- and decide what rights, if any, the minority has. nazi germany was one of the most lawful and unjust society is in the history of the world. the nuremberg laws were rules by law. what exists around most of the world and in cuba today come in my own experience, is that the most powerful, the most privileged, get together and decide what rights, if any, the minority have. the united states constitution is the rule by law. the rule by law is to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. it is the classic definition of law. now, the rule of law is what justice kennedy and justice r

among them john adams. >> well, this is one of the many many letters of john adams. is is the real thing. >> reporter: adams wrote to his wife abigail on his first night as president saying staying in what was then called the president's house. >> some lines from that letter were carved into the mantle piece in the state dining room at the white house at the wish of franklin roosevelt. "may none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." and i love that because you notice he puts honest first ahead of wise. >> reporter: why? because honesty is essential. reporter: to mccullough, the great presidents shared a common set of qualities. >> they had courage. and they had integrity. and they had patience. and they had determination. >> reporter: determination like teddy roosvelt who knew the panama canal would be good for american commerce and defense. helping american ships move from one ocean to the other. and he got americans to follow his vision. >> unprecedented for us to do anything like that beyond our own borders. tremendous cost. and a tremendous risk. but

john adams suggested george washington be called his most benign. fortunately congress insisted on a more mesest title. people cheering the president. acting like he would make everything better. >> climate change. >> what do you think the next four years will be like? >> i think it's going to get better. john: what will president obama do about immigration? >> and discernible. john: marijuana. >> i expect the federal government to come in. john: that is our show tonight. >> and now john stossel. ♪ john: to was that guy? anyway, this monday our nation's capital looked like a marquee when a new king is ground. thousands of plot, a cheer. many act like subjects worshiping nobility. economic troubles, why all the pomp? watching, i wondered, should our capital be called imperial washington? maybe ago to far. senator john barrasso attended the inauguration joining us from washington. my imperial washington seems to be a minority opinion. in my being unfair? >> i have been to every inauguration since i was in my dad took me to john kennedy's inauguration

john adams suggested george washington be called his most benign. fortunately congress insisted on a more mesest title. people cheering the president. acting like he would make everything better. >> climate change. >> what do you think the next four years will be like? >> i think it's going to get better. john: what will president obama do about immigration? >> and discernible. john: marijuana. >> i expect the federal government to come in. john: that is our show tonight. >> and now john stossel. ♪ john: to was that guy? anyway, this monday our nation's capital looked like a marquee when a new king is ground. thousands of plot, a cheer. many act like subjects worshiping nobility. economic troubles, why all the pomp? watching, i wondered, should our capital be called imperial washington? maybe ago to far. senator john barrasso attended the inauguration joining us from washington. my imperial washington seems to be a minority opinion. in my being unfair? >> i have been to every inauguration since i was in my dad took me to john kennedy's inauguration

country was founded when when thomas jefferson and his compatriots when he and and george mason and john adams the two of them along with ben franklin edited the declaration of independence and then we was forty three people signed it every one of them the moment that they signed it became traitors to great britain and were doing and the declaration was that they would be hung until dead every single one of them these men fought in a revolutionary war at least many of them fought revolutionary war about a third of them watched everything they had as a consequence of that revolution and they did it because they believed in a nation of by and for the people and an active government that could actually produce happiness the declaration of independence uses the word of happiness the first time in the history of civilization that that word had been used in a founding document. dolly madison ran into the burning white house are about to be actually was the day before it was burned in the war of eight hundred twelve is as big as the with the british and the canadians were coming in to save the the pa

. >> john: how would that have stopped adam lanzer from stealing his mom's gun. >> guest: the argument is because it doesn't solve everything we shouldn't do anything. i believe we need a comprehensive approach and look at all of the different elements here and because a particular effort will not prevent something in one incident doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything that may not help in others. you can be on the terrorist watch list and privented from boarding an airplane but you can go buy a semiautomatic. >> john: adam lanzer was not on anyone's radar screen except for the parents and doctors. how does gun control solve that problem? >> guest: i don't think it every american's heart was broken when they staw what happened in connecticut. more restrictions on law-abiding citizens will not prevent the tragedy. the second amendment is freedom. we have to focus. if well are way to help address the situation fine. but it is it about freedom and frankly you have to remember that bad guys are not stupid, they are just bad. they'll figure out f. they are intent on doing something bad they

but the time john adams became president he decided he would have no party said hall -- no parties at all. the first all we know of was in this town. the first party they had was in a hotel. in the succeeding years they had parties and it would collet sometimes a paul, sometimes a party. it wasn't until the late 1840's that it began to get into the theme of having an event of special nature here. they started to build temporary buildings for part of that. one of the things about the inauguration -- the constitution is clear about -- it's as explicitly that on january 20 at noon. there is the appointed allegiance. >> i ronald reagan do solemnly swear. that i will faithfully execute the office of president of the united states and will to the best of my ability preserve protect and defend the constitution of the united states. so help me god. [applause] >> the rest of the inaugural events are up to the president's staff. lately it has been a pattern in which the president, after being sworn in, gives the inaugural speech, he then comes to the white house down pennsylvania avenue in a pa

john adams suggested george washington be called his most benign hine necessary. congress insisted on a more modest title. the people cheering the president this week acted like he will make everything better. >> climate change. >> what do you think the next four years will be like? >> definitely think it will get better. >> what will he do about immigration? >> this is not the american dream. this is an american nightmare. >> about marijuana? >> a celebratory smokeout now that pot is legal. >> about spending? >> obama 35r9 2. that's our show tonight. >> obama part 2, that's our show. tonight. >> and now "jojohn stossel. >> who was that guy? anyway, this monday, our nation's capital looked like a monarchy looks when a new king is crowned. thousands applaud, cheer acting like subjects worshipping nobility. at a time when america faces unsustainable debt, economic trouble, why all of the pomp. watching i wondered should our capital be called imperial washington? maybe i go too farment senator burasso attended he joins us from washington. my imperial washington seems

john adams.s was the first person to put in the vegetable guarden. >> gardening back in the day. there you go. i like that factoid. >> i thought it was michelle. >> felicia taylor, thank you so much. as we're talking white house, we're talking white house just because of the inauguration this upcoming monday. today we're looking beyond the fun and festivities and breaking down the challenges the president will face in his final term. coming up, a look at one of his biggest jobs. >>> but first, next month we will begin introducing you to a new group of amazing people. you know them as our cnn heroes. this will be for 2013. want you to first take a look at the young woman from nepal who you named the 2012 cnn hero of the year. >> for 29-year-old bassnet, 2013 begins on a high note. bassnet was named cnn hero of the year for her work providing a home for children of incarcerated parents in nepal. i sat down with her right after the big moment. how do you feel? you just won. >> i think i'm dreaming.

. >> john adams wanted it to be almost regal.the president. >> washington settled on a more modest title, his excellence sy, the president. >> totally watching that. on monday, barack obama, president barack obama, will be sworn in for the second term as the 43rd president of the united states. a ground breaking presidency to say the least but no president is as groundbreaking as george washington. when he became the first president, there was no precedent. every other president follow it is script by the man on the dollar bill. the history piece examines the evolving role of the presidency. joining us now, steve gillan. how are you? >> doing great. thanks for having me on. >> i'm fascinated how george washington shaped the presidency in to what we have now. talk a little bit about how george washington wrote the stript is that all other presidents follow. >> sure. i want to finish that story that your lead-in talked in about the title that washington would have and he wanted his excel len sy because he didn't want people touchin

john adams in philadelphia. chester arthur in new york. teddy roosevelt in buffalo.vin coolidge in plymouth, vermont, and lbj in dallas. james polk's inauguration was the first to be covered use the telegraph and warren hardings parade was the first to use cars. james buchanan's inaugural was the first one photographed and william mckinley's what's the first filmed. cal lidge's what's the first on radio and hoover's was the if irs in a movie new reel. the first to be televised was harry truman. lincoln's parade was the first to include african-americans and wilson's was the first to include women. while bad weather moved the ceremony indoors for william howard taft and ronald reagan, grant toughed it out in 16 degrees and jack kennedy in 20 degrees without an overcoat. fdr's inaugust rag was the first held in january after a constitutional amendment moved the date up from manch. finally, more people witnessed barack obama's first than any other event ever held in washington. that was put together by producer will rabe. i love that stuff. fast, lots of information, lo

democracy of ours was forged by intellectual and argument, by activism, and blood, and above all from john adamse in the ongoing success of our collective journey is an event from our past. i speak of the improbable completion of the capitol dome, and capping it with a statute of freedom which occurred 150 years ago in 1863. when abraham lincoln took office two years earlier, the dome above us was a halt-built eye sore. conventional wisdom that it should be left unfinished until the war ended give the financial needs of the times. but to president lincoln, the half finished dome simple bollized the half divided nation. lincoln said, if people see the capitol going on, it is a sign we intend the union shall on. and so despite the conflict with which engulfed the nation and surrounded the city, the dome continued to rise. on december 2nd, 1862 within the statute of freedom, a woman was placed atop the dome where she still stands today. in a sublime irony, was a former slave now free american philip reid who helped to cast the bronze statute. now our present times are not as pearlies or as despairi

john adams if in colonial times mentioned the incredible intelligence network that african-americansmed to v the grapevine that carried news from far and wide in the plantations, plantation south, and it actually operated as well during this time period. so from hearing about things, carrying the word forth, they definitely knew about it. >> suarez: one thing the emancipation proclamation didn't do was free enslaved people legally owned in the united states, in kentucky, in maryland, in west virgia. did the owners in those places know that the institution's days were number even though they were still part of the union? >> well, they certainly feared it. southerners in the deep south and in the border states understood that when lincoln and republicans moved to stop the halt of slavery, the expansion of slavery, in a way it was the death knell, slavery was an expansionist institution. so to say you were going to leave slavely in place in the places it was was another way of saying it could no grow. and if it could not grow it would die. so i think a lot of people understood what the