Honestly, if you asked the average person who was the first vice president of America, they might take a second to guess. Most of us have the "big names" of the Revolution burned into our brains—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, maybe even Alexander Hamilton thanks to the Broadway show.
But the guy who actually stood first in the shadows of the presidency was John Adams.
He wasn’t exactly thrilled about the job. In fact, he kind of hated it. While we look back at the Founders like they were statues in a park, John Adams was a living, breathing, and frequently annoyed human being who thought his new role was basically a waste of his time.
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The Most Insignificant Office Ever Imagined
John Adams didn't mince words. He famously wrote to his wife, Abigail, that his country had contrived for him "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived."
Imagine being one of the primary architects of American independence. You've been a diplomat in Europe, you've signed the Treaty of Paris, and you've basically willed the Continental Congress into declaring independence. Then, you get a job where your only real duty is to sit in a chair and watch other people talk.
That was Adams' reality in 1789.
He didn't even get the job through a "running mate" system like we have today. Back then, the runner-up in the Electoral College just became the VP. Washington got 69 votes (unanimous), and Adams came in second with 34.
He felt humiliated by the low number. It felt like a consolation prize rather than a mandate.
What Did the First Vice President Actually Do?
Basically, he sat in the Senate.
Under the Constitution, the Vice President is the President of the Senate. Adams took this very literally. He didn't just sit there; he tried to participate. He lectured the senators. He gave long-winded speeches on political theory.
The senators? They weren't fans.
They eventually told him to sit down and be quiet unless there was a tie. This led to Adams casting 31 tie-breaking votes, a record that stood for a massive chunk of American history. He wasn't just a figurehead; he was the deciding factor on things like the location of the national capital and US neutrality in European wars.
The "His Rotundity" Incident
If you think modern politics is mean, you should have seen the 1790s. Adams was obsessed with titles. He argued that the President should be called something grand, like "His Highness, the President of the United States of America, and Protector of the Rights of the Same."
He thought this would give the new nation more "splendor" and respect on the world stage.
His colleagues thought he was being ridiculous. They started calling him "His Rotundity" behind his back—a jab at both his waistline and his love for royal-sounding titles. Eventually, the Senate settled on the simple "Mr. President," which we still use today.
Relationship With George Washington
You’d think the first President and Vice President would be best friends, right? Not really.
Washington and Adams had a "cordial but restrained" relationship. Washington rarely asked Adams for advice. He didn't invite him to cabinet meetings for most of his two terms. Adams was essentially left in the dark on major policy decisions.
It’s a weird dynamic to think about. Adams was the one who actually nominated Washington to lead the Continental Army years earlier. Now, he was being ignored by the man he helped put in power.
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Adams spent those eight years in what he called "obscurity," even though he was technically the second-most powerful person in the country.
Why John Adams Matters Now
We often overlook Adams because he was followed by Thomas Jefferson—his friend-turned-rival-turned-friend. But Adams set the precedent for what a peaceful transfer of power looks like.
When he finally became President in 1797, he had to follow the "unbeatable" George Washington. That’s a tough act to follow. But his time as the first vice president of America taught him one thing: the importance of the office over the person.
Despite his vanity and his temper, Adams was deeply committed to the rule of law. He was a "government of laws, not of men" kind of guy.
Key Takeaways from the Adams Era
- The VP role was an afterthought: The Founders didn't really know what to do with the position.
- Senate ties matter: Adams used his tie-breaking vote to stabilize the early government.
- Patience is a virtue: Adams waited eight years in a job he loathed before becoming the second President.
If you're looking to understand the roots of American bureaucracy, start with Adams’ letters. They aren't just dry history; they’re the complaints of a man who was desperately trying to make a brand-new system work while feeling completely ignored.
To get a better feel for the era, you should look into the Alien and Sedition Acts or the XYZ Affair. These events defined Adams' later presidency and showed just how much he learned—or didn't learn—during his "insignificant" years as the first VP. You might also find it interesting to read the correspondence between John and Abigail Adams; it’s basically the "West Wing" of the 18th century, but with more quill pens and less walking-and-talking.