Politics

Bachmann mistakes John Quincy Adams for a Founding Father

Amanda Carey Contributor
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Minnesota GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann, now an official presidential candidate, wrangled with George Stephanopoulos of “Good Morning America” during an interview Tuesday morning when the host gave her an opportunity to clear up past gaffes.

But when addressing her March comment that the Founding Fathers “worked tirelessly” to end slavery, Bachmann made what could be construed as another misstatement.

“Well if you look at one of our Founding Fathers, John Quincy Adams, that’s absolutely true,” said Bachmann. “He tirelessly worked throughout his life to make sure that we did, in fact, one day eradicate slavery from our nation.”

When Stephanopoulos pointed out that John Quincy Adams is not generally considered to be a Founding Father, Bachmann said he may have been a young boy, but he was “absolutely a part of the Revolutionary War era.”

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Born in 1767 to John and Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States, from 1825 to 1829. According to Richard B. Morris’ book, “Seven Who Shaped Our Destiny: The Founding Fathers as Revolutionaries,” the founders are George Washington, John Adams, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.