John Adams (1735-1826) was notoriously thin-skinned and rarely responded to criticism or ridicule with anything approaching a light-hearted spirit. When he found his role as Vice President did not earn him the respect in Congress he expected, he did not try to hide his feelings.

He summed up his thoughts, saying, “In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.”

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