Today is Independence Day. At least this is the day we celebrate
our independence from Britain. John Adams insisted we should celebrate on July
2, however, because that was the day the vote on Richard Henry Lee’s motion on
independence was finally approved.
With all the attention the musical Hamilton has garnered, the American public is once again focused on
our founding fathers.
I took an interest in the story of the struggle to get a
resolution passed after we saw the movie 1776
for the first time. We immediately bought the cast recording and were surprised
to find one of our favorite songs was missing from the movie. We saw the play
onstage several times—with the missing song intact.
Several years later we learned that the film had been
previewed at the White House, and then-President Richard Nixon objected so
strongly to the song “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men,’ that producer, Jack L.
Warner, a close friend of the president, ordered it to be removed before the
picture was released. In fact, all film of the song was supposed to have been destroyed.
However, for the 2002 release of the DVD version, the studio
scoured old files and located all the film cut from the original theatrical and
video releases. The current DVD version is the complete play.
The writers of the original play took much of the dialogue
from the writings of actual participants as well as minutes of the Continental
Congress. The cast brings each of the historical figures to life. They become
real people.
While not 100% accurate, this drama provides a sense of the
individuals who struggled with the concept of revolution—or treason, depending
on which side they were on.
After seeing this production, I have never been able to take
the process or the actual men involved for granted. If you haven’t seen this
film, I strongly recommend it. Viewing it has become an annual event in our
house.
Perhaps, in honor of John Adams, we should have watched it
on July 2nd.
Of course, the final irony is that John Adams died on July
4, 1826, the same day as his friend and adversary Thomas Jefferson. The two men,
who arguably made the greatest contribution to American independence, suffered
a rift in their friendship for many years. However, Adams began to write to
Jefferson, and they corresponded until the end of their lives.
As Adams died, he said, “Thomas Jefferson still survives.”
However, he was wrong. Jefferson had passed away five hours earlier.
So today we not only celebrate our freedom from Britain, but
also the extraordinary lives of two exceptional patriots.
How will you celebrate today? Do you have any family rituals
for the holiday?
