The extraordinary saga of a family that for over two hundred years has been at the center of political and intellectual power in America. This biography tells the epic story of the Adamses of Massachusetts. From the great political and philosphical contributions of the founding father, John Adams, to the present generation of inheritors of the family legacy who continue to serve the country, the reader follows the dramatic careers of John's stoutly independent son, the diplomat and sixth president, John Quincy Adams; the pre-Civil War "Voice of Honor," Charles Francis Adams; the famous authors, Henry and Brook Adams; and those who have carried on the dynasty's tradition in giving leadership in many fields of American endeavor, from scholarship and intellectual pursuits to statesmanship and business.