Podcast Summary: "The Diplomatic Prowess of Louisa Adams"
Podcast: Here’s Where It Gets Interesting
Host: Sharon McMahon
Episode Date: September 29, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Sharon McMahon takes listeners through the extraordinary life and diplomatic strength of Louisa Adams, the only First Lady (besides Melania Trump) born outside the United States. Moving well beyond typical textbook narratives, Sharon explores Louisa’s upbringing in Europe, her partnership with John Quincy Adams, and her remarkable resilience and political savvy as she navigated turbulent times—both personally and in the evolving political landscape of early 19th-century America.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Introduction & Historical Context
[01:46]
- The episode opens with a recap of prior discussions about early First Ladies and their unique challenges.
- Louisa Adams is introduced as a pivotal figure bridging the era of the Founding Fathers and the nation’s next phase of industrialization and change.
2. Louisa’s Early Life and Upbringing
[03:00]
- Birth and Family: Born Louisa Catherine Johnson in 1775, London, to an English mother and an American father from a prominent Maryland family.
- “She was a wealthy London socialite courted by John Quincy, the son of our second President, John Adams.” — Sharon [03:35]
- Education: Louisa’s upbringing was indulgent yet cosmopolitan—fluent in French by childhood due to her family’s years in France as American Loyalists.
- Her parents’ ambitions for their daughters centered on making “good marriages,” rather than intellectual accomplishment—but a rebellious teacher fostered in Louisa a habit of independent thought.
3. Marriage to John Quincy Adams
[06:19]
- Courtship: Initially caught the eye of John Quincy Adams’s brother, but ultimately John Quincy courted her for six months, followed by a period of long-distance letter writing.
- Marriage and Family Setbacks: Married in London (1797), but did not receive the expected dowry due to her father’s bankruptcy, a subject of social embarrassment for Louisa.
- “Louisa was very embarrassed...But to his credit, John Quincy wrote in his own diary that he had no regrets about his decision to marry Louisa.” — Sharon [08:55]
- Moving to America: Emigrated to Massachusetts in 1801, facing anxiety about fitting in with the Adams family, especially under the disapproving eye of Abigail Adams.
4. Adjusting to Adams Family Life & Political Circles
[09:40]
- Provincial America: Louisa found Quincy, Massachusetts, shockingly rural compared to London—"Had I stepped into Noah's Ark, I do not think I could have been more utterly astonished.” — Louisa Adams, quoted by Sharon [10:30]
- Integration into Washington Society: Louisa thrived more in Washington, D.C., socializing and laying the groundwork for her husband’s political network.
5. Louisa’s Political Partnerships and Personal Resilience
[14:49]
- Behind-the-scenes Influence: Barred from male political networks, Louisa organized elite social gatherings to advance John Quincy’s career, actively networking and advocating for him within Washington society.
- Intellectual Partnership: The Adamses’ relationship, while cooler and less affectionate than John and Abigail’s, was built on mutual letters, strategic advice, and enduring care.
- “John Quincy often called Louisa ‘dearest’ and closed his letters with warmth, such as in 1804: ‘Adieu, my dearest friend. May you never feel a pang imparted from your husband's hand...’” — Sharon [16:02]
- Personal Sorrows: She endured 15 pregnancies, most of which ended in miscarriages, leading to episodes of depression. Only three of their children survived to adulthood.
6. Diplomatic High Stakes: Russia and Europe
[17:00]
- St. Petersburg Posting: Despite her wishes, Louisa accompanied John Quincy to Russia—leaving two sons behind, suffering ill health and a tragic loss when her daughter Louisa died at 13 months (the first recorded American born in Russia).
- Courage and Diplomacy: After John Quincy was called to Belgium to negotiate the end of the War of 1812, Louisa managed a daunting six-week winter journey from Russia to Paris, facing dangerous roadblocks and deftly talking her way past Napoleon’s troops.
- “‘Viva Napoleon!’ she shouted, explaining who they were, and convinced the soldiers her group was not a threat.” — Sharon [21:49]
7. Return to America and Political Ambitions
[22:30]
- Washington’s Premier Hostess: Back in D.C., Louisa hosted influential gatherings, advocating for John Quincy as a potential president. Her efforts are credited with boosting his profile during the chaotic election of 1824.
- Election Drama: Sharon details the four-way 1824 election—no clear winner—and the “corrupt bargain” speculation when Speaker Henry Clay threw his support to Adams, leading to Adams’s victory in the House of Representatives and Clay’s appointment as Secretary of State.
- “The Judas of the West has closed the contract and will receive the 30 pieces of silver.” — Andrew Jackson, as quoted by Sharon [29:33]
8. Life in the White House & Political Strife
[30:35]
- Social Duties & Party Politics: The Adamses hosted regular events; Louisa, though preferring quiet, handled the role with dignity.
- Partisan Fracturing: The National Republican vs. Democrat rivalry emerged, hampering Adams’s ambitions and exposing both John Quincy and Louisa to harsh criticism.
- Sharon emphasizes, “We often like to think that we're living in the most divided times... but that is just like not at all true.” [32:19]
- Family Struggles: Louisa contended with her sons’ romantic rivalry (all fell for their cousin, who married one of them in the White House) and the tragic death of her eldest, George, by apparent suicide.
9. Later Life and Legacy
[35:11]
- Continued Service: John Quincy, restless after his presidency, won a seat in the House of Representatives and served for 17 more years. He died of a stroke on the job in 1848, “They bring him into the rotunda to get fresh air... he stays in the capital, in the United States Capitol, where he died.” — Sharon [37:11]
- Louisa’s Final Years: She remained in D.C., where she felt most at home, and died in 1852 at age 77.
- A Historic Tribute: On the day of her funeral, Congress adjourned to honor her—the first time in U.S. history the federal government acknowledged the death of a woman.
- “Congress took the unprecedented step to adjourn in order to honor the lifelong service she gave to the country.” — Sharon [38:45]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Imagine a rebel teacher encouraging you to form your own opinion.” — Sharon, on Louisa’s formative education [05:11]
- “Louisa was very embarrassed...But to his credit, John Quincy wrote in his own diary that he had no regrets about his decision to marry Louisa.” — Sharon [08:55]
- “Had I stepped into Noah's Ark, I do not think I could have been more utterly astonished.” — Louisa Adams, quoted by Sharon [10:30]
- “John Quincy often called Louisa ‘dearest’ and closed his letters with warmth, such as in 1804: ‘Adieu, my dearest friend. May you never feel a pang imparted from your husband's hand...’” — Sharon [16:02]
- “Viva Napoleon!” — Louisa Adams, defusing a tense situation with French soldiers [21:49]
- “The Judas of the West has closed the contract and will receive the 30 pieces of silver.” — Andrew Jackson, in response to the 1824 election outcome [29:33]
- “We often like to think that we're living in the most divided times... but that is just like not at all true.” — Sharon [32:19]
- “Congress took the unprecedented step to adjourn in order to honor the lifelong service she gave to the country.” — Sharon, on Louisa’s funeral [38:45]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:46 | Recap of earlier First Ladies and setting for Louisa Adams | | 03:00–09:00 | Louisa’s origins, education, and marriage to John Quincy Adams | | 09:40–14:49 | Integration into American life, relationships with Adams family | | 14:49–17:00 | Political partnerships and Louisa’s social prowess | | 17:00–22:30 | Diplomatic assignment in Russia, personal tragedy, dramatic journey to Paris | | 22:30–25:40 | Louisa returns, boosts John Quincy's presidential candidacy | | 29:03–33:00 | Election of 1824, "corrupt bargain," White House adjustment | | 33:00–36:00 | Family feuds, death of Louisa’s son, post-presidency developments | | 36:00–38:45 | John Quincy’s final years, Louisa’s death, Congressional tribute |
Episode Tone and Style
Sharon McMahon’s narration is warm, witty, and conversational—filled with empathy for Louisa Adams and alive to the irony, heartbreak, and resilience in her story. She balances engaging storytelling with accessible explanations of historical context.
Takeaway
Louisa Adams, born an outsider, proved herself to be a formidable and compassionate force behind a president—her adaptability, strategic brilliance, and perseverance shaped both her family’s fate and the nation’s history. The episode highlights how much ground can be broken by those working behind the scenes, especially women whose contributions have too often gone unsung.