John Adams

• John Adams, who went on to become the second President of the United States and lived to the ripe old age of 91, wrote many letters home to his wife Abigail while he was in Philadelphia participating in the Continental Congress in 1774. In addition to other topics, he wrote about his experiences imbibing with the other fledgling statesmen. Here are some excerpts included in author Mark Will-Weber's new book, “Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt: The Complete History of Presidential Drinking.”

"I was at Mister Chew’s mansion last night, and I drank Madeira at a great rate and felt no inconvenience [the word for hangover in those days] the next morning."

... and, since he began most days with a draft of hard cider that he treated like medicine, he wrote this on July 26, 1796 ...

"In conformity to the fashion I drank this Morning and Yesterday Morning, about a Jill [also spelled 'gill,' and meaning a quarter of a pint] of Cyder. It seems to do me good, by diluting and dissolving the Phlegm or the Bile in the Stomach.”

... and the very next day ...

“I continue my practice of drinking a Jill of Cyder in the Morning and find no ill but some good Effect.”

---