John Quincy Adams was a chip off the old block. … Like his father, he was personally ambitious, but he consistently resisted the temptation to place his own desires at the forefront of his motivation or as the basis for his decisions. His independent streak was notorious. … This was one of the main reasons he attracted far more enemies than friends in his chosen profession. … For his opponents, he was merciless, using his exceptional debating skills to boldly deconstruct their positions in pursuit of his own sense of right and wrong on behalf of his community and his nation. … While often unpopular, he was always grounded in firm convictions that placed his nation’s best interest at the forefront of his thoughts and actions. … His one-term presidency was a disappointment, shrouded under an incessant propaganda campaign over a so-called “corrupt bargain” that severely limited his ability to deliver on his bold agenda. But, unlike his father, his post-presidency may have been the most impactful phase of his entire career, as he served his country to his very last breath. Adams more than fulfilled his destiny as the heir to the family line of selfless leaders, leaving a legacy that spanned far more than his four years as his nation’s President.