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Rival Friends: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Discuss & Debate the Founding of the United States
  • Date: Tuesday, July 03, 2018
  • Time: 4:00 pm
  • Location: William G. McGowan Theater, Washington, DC

The personal friendship, patriotic collaboration, and political rivalry of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams spanned five decades. Together they fought to establish the new nation; later, they fought over the direction that nation would take. In the end, they gave future generations the precious example of two U.S. Presidents opposed to one another in politics yet allied in patriotism and mutual respect.

The two Founding Fathers (portrayed by Joseph Doyle and Steven Edenbo) will debate each other and take questions from the audience. Topics will include the Declaration of Independence, Alexander Hamilton, the Constitution, the Presidency, and any subject that the audience would like to introduce (provided it happened before July 4, 1826). This program is presented in collaboration with American Historical Theatre (www.AHTheatre.org).

All public programs at the National Archives are free and streamed live online via the National Archives’ YouTube channel. Reservations are recommended; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors to the building will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the program. Use the Special Events entrance on the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Street, NW. Click here for more information on getting to the National Archives and parking.

Live captioning will be available online and in the William G. McGowan Theater. If you require an alternative or additional accommodation for an event (such as a downloadable transcript or a sign language interpreter), please send an email to public.program@nara.gov or call 202.357.5000 in advance.