John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were friends, but they held vastly different political views. Adams believed in a strong central government whereas Jefferson championed states’ rights. They ran against each other in presidential elections and in the process strained their friendship.

Story of two founding fathers. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Two men began their friendship in the early days of the nation. Politically they were not on the same page.
In 1796 they ran against each other in presidential election. Adams won and Jefferson was his vice president.
In 1800 they squared of again. This time campaign got a little nasty. Jefferson won, and Adams left town and skipped the inauguration ceremony.
They didn’t speak for 12 years.
With the help of another Founding Father, Benjamin Rush, they reconciled in 1812. They exchanged more than 185 letters between them.
In one of them Adams wrote: “You and I ought not to die before we have explained ourselves to each other.”
Both men died on the same day. It was July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
According to newspaper reports, Adams’s last words were: “Jefferson still lives”. He didn’t know his friend had died before him.

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