This multi Emmy award-winning PBS series aired in 1976 to commemorate the American Bicentennial, telling how succeeding generations of the political Adams family influenced American history.
The story covered a period of 150 years (1750 – 1900) with the most prominent member of the family, John Adams (George Grizzard) – signer of the Declaration of Independence, accomplished diplomat and the 2nd President – being seen as the most influential of all.
His son John Quincy Adams (acclaimed Secretary of State, the 6th President, and prominent abolitionist) was played by Mark Winkworth.
The series traced their lives from John Adams’ early years as a colonial Boston attorney to the rise in prominence of Brookes Adams in the fields of political and social philosophy.
There was a great emphasis on historical accuracy in the preparation of the series, with the provision of 300,000 pages of diaries, letters and miscellaneous documents from the Massachusetts Historical Society Adams Collection and a small army of scholars to interpret them.
John Adams George Grizzard John Adams II – younger
Tim Wilson John Adams II
Allan Carlsen Richard Cranch
Michael O’Hare Andrew Jackson
Wesley Addy John Quincy Adams
David Birney Samuel Adams
W.B. Brydon John Quincy Adams
William Daniels John Hancock
Curt Dawson Madame Brillon
M’el Dowd M’el Henry Clay
George Hearn Lord Howe
Patrick Horgan Nabby
Katharine Houghton Fanny
K.C. Ligon Abigail ‘Nabby’ Adams II
Lisa Lucas Mrs Smith
Nancy Marchand Louisa Catherine Adams
Pamela Payton-Wright Patrick Henry
William Shust Alexis de Toqueville
Jean-Pierre Stewart King George III
John Tillinger Abigail Smith Adams
Kathryn Walker George Washington Adams
David Elliott Thomas Jefferson
Albert Stratton Charles Francis Adams
John Beal Henry Adams
Peter Brandon James Monroe
Henry Butler Abigail Brooks Adams
Nancy Coleman Abigail Smith Adams (age 44-74)
Leora Dana Charles Francis Adams
Thomas A. Stewart James McHenry
Tom Aldredge Mary Catherine Hellen (Older)
Maureen Anderman Fanny Adams
Susan Bjurman George Washington Adams
Peter Coffield Minnie Adams
Patricia Elliott Jay Gould
Paul Hecht James Madison
Ken Kercheval John C. Calhoun
Robert Phalen Charles Adams
J.C. Powell John Quincy Adams II
Nicholas Pryor Timothy Pickering
Reid Shelton Charles Francis Adams II
Charles Siebert Alexander Hamilton
Jeremiah Sullivan Benjamin Franklin
Robert Symonds Thomas Adams
Tom Tammi Brooks Adams
Charles Tenney John Quincy Adams
Mark Winkworth Narrator
Michael Tolan
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