The final program in a three-part series to commemorate the 225th anniversary of John Adams’ arrival in Amsterdam in 1780. His diplomatic mission was to gain support for the fledgling United States from the United Provinces of the Dutch Republic. But to succeed, Adams had to navigate the complexities of 18th century European diplomacy, balance-of-power politics and – not least of all – Dutch banking. The house he bought in Amsterdam became the first U.S. embassy on foreign soil. Historians including Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer David McCullough conclude the story of the seeds of Dutch-American friendship.
Producer: David Swatling
Broadcast: April 17, 2005