1776 John Adams - Scene 6a-6b

“… endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…”

Jefferson, we’re back and we’ve got Maryland, that is we will soon as Chase gets through telling the Maryland Assembly what we saw in New Brunswick!

“They’re reading the Declaration.”

What? How far have they got?

“… independent and superior to…”

Well, there’s nothing to fear. It’s a masterpiece! I’m to be congratulated.

“You?”

For making him write it.

“… playing midwife to an egg.”

Egg? What egg?

“What sort of bird should we choose as the symbol of our new America?”

The Eagle.

“The turkey.”

The Eagle.

“The dove.”

The Eagle.

“The turkey.” (2nd time)

The eagle is a majestic bird.

“The eagle is a scavenger, a thief, a coward and the symbol of more than ten centuries of European mischief.”

And the turkey??

“… therefore the national bird of America is going to be…”

The eagle.

“But will it hatch an egg?”

The Declaration will be a triumph, I tell you, a triumph! If I was ever sure of anything I’m sure of that, a triumph! And if it isn’t we’ve still got four days left to think of something else.