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Message: [QUOTE="RoatanCuse, post: 3900816, member: 1035"] Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had been close friends when they worked together as two of the principal architects of American independence. But in the early days of the republic they became bitter political rivals—with competing visions of America that put them at odds with each other on nearly everything. Before long it would be fair to call them enemies. They distrusted and disliked each other. When Mr. Jefferson succeeded Adams as president, Adams refused to attend the inauguration. Jefferson and Adams remained enemies for many years, but as they grew old and began to near the end of their lives, their fellow Founder Benjamin Rush took it upon himself the reconcile the men. It pained Rush to see two towering heroes of the Revolution ending their lives as enemies. As a result of Rush’s efforts and entreaties, Jefferson and Adams eventually began to correspond, renewing their old friendship despite their differences. Over the next dozen years the men exchanged 158 letters. In March 1812, a year before his death, Rush wrote Adams saying “I rejoice in the correspondence which has taken place between you and your old friend, Mr. Jefferson. I consider you and him as the North and South Poles of the American Revolution. Some talked, some wrote, and some fought to promote and establish it, but you and Mr. Jefferson thought for us all.” In July 1826, 83-year-old Thomas Jefferson was clinging to life at Monticello, lapsing in and out of consciousness, determined to live until the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, he awoke and asked those present, “Is it the Fourth yet?” After being assured that it was, Mr. Jefferson passed away. Later that day, at his home in Quincy, Massachusetts, 90-year-old John Adams also passed away. His last words were “Thomas Jefferson survives.” It was one of the remarkable coincidences of American history that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day—July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. And thanks to the efforts of Benjamin Rush, they ended their lives as friends, rather than enemies. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died one hundred ninety-five years ago today. [/QUOTE]

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