Narrator: Hamilton is convinced that there are two things necessary if the United States is ever to become a great nation -- the establishment of a strong economy, which he has achieved, and the building of a powerful military. He believes that only with a regular army can America survive in a hostile world
Events overseas give him a chance to realize this objective. By 1799, the French army, led by Napoleon, has invaded Egypt and Syria. Hamilton fears that the French are now contemplating conquests in the New World.
Gordon S. Wood, Historian: Many people thought that the French were going to invade and turn us into another one of the French republics that they were creating all over Europe.
Narrator: The still very popular ex-president, George Washington, is appointed commander in chief, and he insists that Hamilton be made a general and put in charge of raising a large army. There is, however, one formidable obstacle blocking Hamilton's dreams of military glory -- the current president of the United States, John Adams.
John Adams (as portrayed by actor): He's cramming Hamilton down my throat. I'm compelled to appoint the most restless, impatient, artful, unprincipled intriguer in the United States to be commander of the army.
Ron Chernow, Biographer: The relationship between Alexander Hamilton and John Adams had a slightly pathological quality. Adams, who was considerably senior to Hamilton, had been completely excluded from the inner policy circle of the Washington administration. So, Adams has to suffer the sight of this young, strutting upstart running the federal government.
Narrator: Adams makes it clear that he loathes Hamilton, and that he fully intends to make peace with France.
In a fury, Hamilton demands a meeting with the president.
John Adams (as portrayed by actor): I'm in a good humor and receive him civilly. He repeats over and over again how there's no use making a treaty with France, and how we should form an alliance with England. His eloquence and his vehemence wrought the little man up to such a degree of heat and effervescence, I thought he was going to have a fit.
I tell him calmly that I disagree with just about everything that he's saying. He is obviously completely ignorant about France, England and everywhere else. Never in my life did I hear a man talk more like a fool. I shall take no more notice of his puppyhood.
Narrator: Adams wants to get rid of the army at all costs. In this time of crisis, Hamilton suffers another blow -- George Washington dies at Mount Vernon.
Alexander Hamilton (as portrayed by actor): He was my aegis, my shield, my armor -- essential to everything I have accomplished. No one feels this loss more than I. My heart is filled with gloom.
Ron Chernow, Biographer: When Washington died, Hamilton made the revealing statement that Washington was an aegis, that is, a shield most essential. Here, Hamilton is saying that he needed a political patron and protector -- and that was George Washington. So Hamilton went from being the most powerful figure in Washington's first two terms to suddenly being this outcast under John Adams.
Narrator: Adams signs a peace treaty with France, and forces Hamilton to demobilize the army. Adams then spreads rumors to party insiders that Hamilton is a secret ally of the British -- a traitor to his country and worse.
John Adams (as portrayed by actor): He is an underhanded intriguer, a man devoid of any moral principles, a bastard and a foreigner, a Creole...
Alexander Hamilton (as portrayed by actor): The man's even madder than I thought.
Karl F. Walling, Historian: He's proud, he's extraordinarily proud, and if you want to destroy Hamilton, the way to do so is attack his reputation -- that's the Achilles heel. So he's angry with Adams for a stupid policy, but he's equally angry with Adams for saying that he's this leader of a British faction and a threat to American liberty. Hamilton decides, I'm not going to take it anymore; I'm going to take this guy down.
Narrator: It is 1800. John Adams is up for re-election. Hamilton is determined to stop him and promote another Federalist candidate. His weapon -- a vicious fifty-page pamphlet directed against the leader of his own party.
Alexander Hamilton (as portrayed by actor): I was among the many people who admired Mr. Adams for his role in the first stages of the Revolution. I saw him as a man of boldness and patriotism. But watching his actions as president, I began to lose respect for his intellectual abilities. I began to question the solidity of his mind.
Narrator: All of his experience as a writer, and his skills as a lawyer, are now put to the task of destroying the president's reputation.
Alexander Hamilton (as portrayed by actor): He has a disgusting egotism, vanity without bounds, an uncontrolled jealousy, which colors his every eccentric judgment. His ill humors have divided and distracted the supporters of the government
Ron Chernow, Biographer: Once he's no longer under Washington's guidance, Hamilton's judgment becomes increasingly erratic and he, kind of, becomes his own worse enemy.
Narrator: The pamphlet was written for the benefit of Federalist insiders, but even Hamilton's closest allies are astounded.
Nathaniel Pendleton (as portrayed by actor): It's one of your best performances, General Hamilton -- and more unfortunate for the cause of the Federalists than anything ever written.
Joanne B. Freeman, Historian: You know, it's not the first time that Hamilton has done something stupid in print. You know, it's not the first time Hamilton's done something stupid, period. But by this point, he's building up a happy little reputation for himself as the man without discretion, the guy who doesn't know when to shut up, the guy who keeps getting his friends, his political allies, in trouble. He's literally the loose cannon. And that, in itself, is sort of tragic -- to hear his friends come to a point where even they are saying, you know we just can't do this anymore. He's just out of control.
Peter Fenner (as portrayed by actor): I don't know what the effect will be on President Adams, but I do know that the effect of it on Hamilton's character is extremely unfortunate. It is now general opinion that he's radically deficient in discretion. In brief -- unfit to head the party.
Narrator: The infighting between Hamilton and John Adams has devastating long-term consequences.
Thomas Jefferson (as portrayed by actor): Federalists pounce on Federalists and brothers taunt brothers, spitting at each other like roasted apples.
Narrator: Now, split in two, the Federalist Party will never hold national power again.
Willard Sterne Randall, Writer: Hamilton, because he so detested Adams personally, killed his own baby. He destroyed his own party, the Federalist Party, which he had done so much to set up.