Presidential Nicknames - John Adams

Some nicknames were not flattering and others simply made no sense.

John Adams got one nickname from a speech he made that invoked "Sink or Swim."

"Sink or swim, survive or perish with my country, I am with my country from this day on."   

Others were:

- The Colossus of Independence - when he  was in Congress in 1776

- The Atlas of Independence

- The Duke of Braintree - a nod to his home

- Bonny Johnny

- His Rotundity - This was the nickname coined by some Congressmen and Senators.  It was also George Washington's nickname for Adams which was meant to get back at him for insisting that Congress address the President as His Highness.