

In common parlance, he had a massive stroke. It wouldn’t help: The former president had suffered what was then known as an apoplectic fit and what doctors would today refer to as a cerebral hemorrhage. READ MORE: The dirty, painful death of President James A. Joseph Grinnell of Massachusetts somehow secured a bucket of ice water and threw it on Adams’ face. The doctor immediately ran to the old man’s side and gave the rather innocuous orders, “Stand back! Give him some air! Remove him from the chamber!” Rep. Even though medicine of this era was still a risky business, at least there was one member-physician on the floor that day: Ohio Rep. Other observers shouted for some help to be administered to the stricken man. A newspaper reporter high up in the press gallery described the former president’s face as “covered with a deathlike pallor, water streamed from his eyes and nose.”

David Fisher.Īdams attempted to say a few words but could not. He fell into the arms of the congressman sitting next to him, Ohio Rep. Winthrop, but his body revolted and he staggered back to his desk. Long a vehement critic of this war, Adams loudly shouted, “No!” amid a swell of “Ayes” from his peers.Īdams then rose from his seat to answer a question from the speaker of the House, Robert C.

Army officers who served in the Mexican-American War. Adams appeared to be in good spirits and even signed a few autographs for some of the younger congressmen who revered the great man.Ī few moments later, the House took up a resolution honoring the U.S. There was no request to seek treatment in a hospital, since those institutions were still primarily inhabited by the poor and incurables.Īdams - or “Old Man Eloquent,” as he was known to his peers - was at his desk.
