The challenge of Clark
Our nation's first president, George Washington, was a farmer and a former general. He was followed in that office by John Adams, a civilian. Adams was defeated in his bid for reelection in 1800 by his former vice president Thomas Jefferson. The election was so close that it had to be decided in the U.S. House of Representatives. Jefferson's victory was finally sealed on the 36th ballot. The great friendship between the two revolutionaries (which began when they first met in 1776) was nearly ruptured beyond repair. They did not speak to each other for 12 years.