John Adams was President from 1797 – 1801 and this story was based between 1796 – 1800. John Adams waged one of the most difficult fights for neutrality in our history. Relations between the United States and France our former ally went from bad to worse until actual hostilities in an undeclared naval war occurred. He said of himself, “I desire no other inscription on my gravestone than Here lies John Adams who took upon himself the responsibility of the peace with France in the year of 1800.”