Meet Renowned Presidential Historian Chervinsky for a Discussion of Her Authoritative New Book on How America’s Second President Ensured Survival of the New Republic
Mount Vernon, VA, August 26, 2024 – Mount Vernon is hosting an opportunity to meet Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, the newly-appointed Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library on Thursday, September 12th at 7:00 PM ET. Dr. Chervinksy will discuss her newest book, Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic, followed by a reception and book signing.
When President Washington announced his retirement in 1796, questions emerged as to whether the new nation would survive without Washington at the helm. Experienced statesman John Adams was elected America’s second president, but the problems plaguing the fledging new nation were greater than he feared. Adams faced seemingly insurmountable odds as he was forced to navigate pandemics, political violence, attacks from foreign powers, threats to freedom of speech and the press, and a hostile cabinet. In clear and compelling prose, Dr. Chervinsky immerses her readers into this precarious political moment, masterfully drawing parallels between the challenges of Adams’ administration and the most urgent issues of modern day.
Already, Dr. Chervinsky’s latest work has received high praise:
“Dr. Chervinsky’s clear and fast-paced political history recaptures the uncertainties of the early American republic.” — Heather Cox Richardson, author of Democracy Awakening
“Chervinsky produces a worthy and intriguing look at how the decisions that Adams made established presidential and political norms that provided a guide for his successors in the White House—and have endured in modern times.“ — Kirkus Reviews
“Those who want to know more about the extraordinary—but often unsung—talents and accomplishments of John Adams should read this well-written and thoroughly entertaining book that brings to life the complicated personality and immense talents of our second president.”
— David Rubenstein, Business Leader, Philanthropist, and author of The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians
Dr. Chervinsky is one of the nation’s most respected presidential scholars and recently joined the Washington Library after serving as a senior non-residential Fellow at the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University and a historian at the White House Historical Association. Dr. Chervinsky also authored the award-winning The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution and was the co-editor of Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture.
Photographs of Dr. Chervinsky and the George Washington Presidential Library are available here.
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill. It also includes the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
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