2.13 Retirement to Peacefield
America's First Ladies
We wrap up Abigail Adams's season with the final year of her husband's presidency and the years they spent post-presidency, finally getting to enjoy a private retirement. Programming note: we'll take a couple of weeks off to let listeners catch up. New episodes will resume on January 16, 2026. Transcript available at Music by
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2.12 The Second First Lady
America's First Ladies
This week covers John Adams's sole term as President, and Abigail's four years as First Lady. Transcript available at Music by
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2.11 The Adamses in Philadelphia
America's First Ladies
This week we cover the rest of Abigail's tenure as the Vice President's wife, and the election of 1796, which results in John Adams being elected President. Transcript available at Music by
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2.10 The First Second Lady
America's First Ladies
Abigail and John wrap up their time in London, return home to the United States, and settle into a normal life back in Massachusetts. And then John is elected as the first Vice President of the United States, forcing Abigail into public life in a new way. Transcript available at Music by
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2.9 Life in London
America's First Ladies
From 1785-1788, the three Adamses lived in London. Nabby got married while there, and Abigail and John became grandparents for the first time. Transcript and further information available at Music by
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2.8 Life in Paris
America's First Ladies
Abigail, Nabby, and John spent one year living in Paris. It was quite the adjustment for Abigail. Transcript available at Music by
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2.7 An International Family
America's First Ladies
John is in the Netherlands, John Quincy is in Russia, Charles sails home to America by himself, and then Abigail and Nabby leave Boston to join John in Europe when the war finally ends. This family gets around! Transcript available at Music by
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2.6 Separated By An Ocean
America's First Ladies
This episode finds Abigail and John living in separate countries, on separate continents, for the majority of 1778-1781. Find out how Abigail puts her entrepreneurial spirit to work. Transcript available at Music by
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2.5 The War Drags On
America's First Ladies
This week Abigail continues to struggle with running the farm in John's absence while he continues to live and work in Philadelphia. Note: this episode contains a somewhat harrowing description of a stillbirth. Transcript available at Music by
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2.4 Independence
America's First Ladies
Note: when this episode went live on 10/24/25, there was a glitch that resulted in two sentences missing at around the 3:30 mark. A new version was uploaded on 10/30/25 with the correct version of the episode. This week covers the pivotal year of 1776. Abigail writes her most famous letter to John, asking Congress to "Remember the Ladies" when drafting the new laws for the new country. Transcript available at Music by
info_outlineThe first half of George Washington's first term as president was spent in New York, the temporary American capital. Martha and George had to muddle their way through being the first to hold their positions, and it wasn't always pleasant.
Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/1-9
Music by Matthew Dull