Sweet Orlinda

Author says: what if John Adams was denied the political advice of his wife Abigail Smith? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).

on this day in the town of Braintree on Massachusetts Bay, friends of the struggling lawyer John Adams burst into his drawing room just moments after his "Sweet Orlinda" Hannah Quincy had accepted his rash proposal of marriage.

For a brief moment he had forgotten his career and financial troubles, a customary lapse of judgement that Benjamin Franklin would later note in summing up Adam's character: "He means well for his country, Please click the

icon to follow us on Facebook.is always an honest man, often a wise man, but sometimes, and in some things, absolutely out of his senses".

And despite his pivotal role at the very centre of events during the American Revolution, that character flaw would cruelly deny him the Vice Presidency twenty years later.

Because in the final analysis, his brilliant legal mind was unsuited to the challenges of governance.

A manic depressive, Adams was overcome by despair and returned to Braintree to resume his career in law. But every dog has its day. Deep into his retirement, two delegates from the Hartford Convention rushed into his drawing room to offer him a second chance, to serve as the President of the New England Conferacy.

Author says in our timeline, friends rushed in before he could propose. Hannah Quincy gave up waiting, and Adams did not marry for a further four years - to Abigail Smith who served as his wife and closest political advisor. To view guest historian's comments on this post please visit the Today in Alternate History web site.

Imagine what would be, if history had occurred a bit differently. Who says it didn't, somewhere? These fictional news items explore that possibility. Possibilities such as America becoming a Marxist superpower, aliens influencing human history in the 18th century and Teddy Roosevelt winning his 3rd term as president abound in this interesting fictional blog.