Christopher Flannery on the Extraordinary Life of John Quincy Adams episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 2, 2026 · 30 MIN

Christopher Flannery on the Extraordinary Life of John Quincy Adams

from The Close Read Podcast · host The Claremont Institute

John Quincy Adams, son of John, grew up amid the turmoil of the revolution. At just 14, he served as interpreter of French for America’s first minister in Russia. He grew into a diplomat, a secretary of state, a president, and a ferociously anti-slavery congressman—after leaving office. He saw deep into the heart of the Declaration’s logic and made it his guiding light. Browsing the diary of JQA, contributing editor Christopher Flannery and associate editor Spencer Klavan delight in the sixth president’s achievements, his towering ambitions, and his oddly relatable notes of self-reproach. Plus: a peek at CRBs to come!The Diaries of John Quincy Adams 1779–1848In Revolution, Thucydides This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 2, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Christopher Flannery on the Extraordinary Life of John Quincy Adams

0:00 30:10

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Close Read Podcast?

This episode is 30 minutes long.

When was this The Close Read Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on March 2, 2026.

Can I download this The Close Read Podcast episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!