John Adams, first of the four presidents who were Unitarians, was on-and-off friends with Thomas Jefferson, who had Unitarian leanings, but was not a member. Learned and thoughtful, John Adams was remarkable as a political philosopher and was one of the indispensable founders of our nation. Prior to serving as President, Adams was a delegate to the Continental Congress, a diplomat, and Vice President under George Washington.

John Adams had studied for the ministry, but came to believe that government service would be more exciting.

John Quincy Adams was the only President who was the son of a President. As a boy, his mother had told him that some day the state would rest upon his shoulders. It did not rest lightly.

Never publicly popular, often reviled by his political enemies, he nevertheless ended his life in the sunshine of national esteem. The presidency was only one of his careers, sandwiched between being a successful diplomat and Secretary of State, and, after the interlude of being President, an equally successful tenure as a Congressman who opposed slavery.

Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams were life-long members of First Parish Church, Quincy, Mass. Their tombs stand in a crypt within the church, beside those of their wives, Abigail and Louisa Catherine.

Vice President Millard Fillmore, upon the death of President Taylor, became the third President who was a Unitarian. Fillmore showed a lack of leadership, and failed to win election in his own right.

In private life Fillmore devoted much of his time to civic activities. He was the first chancellor of the University of Buffalo, a founder of the Buffalo General Hospital, and a founder and first president of the Buffalo Historical Society.

The church building of the First Unitarian Society of Buffalo still exists, although much modified, in downtown Buffalo. Three presidents have worshiped in this building. Millard Fillmore was a charter member of the Church. John Quincy Adams' diary for October 29, 1843, noted that he had attended church with Fillmore.

In 1861, a noteworthy scene occurred in the church. By Mr. Fillmore's side stood a man gaunt, sallow who, with melancholy face, bent reverently at the sound of prayer. The minister spoke with solemn words; then coming from his pulpit, looked for a moment into the serious eyes of the visitor, while he pressed his hand. It was Abraham Lincoln, passing on to the fulfillment of his stormy destiny.

William Howard Taft, the fourth President who was a Unitarian, was hand-picked to succeed Theodore Roosevelt, who was a hard act to follow; they became political adversaries. Taft meant well, said Roosevelt, "but he meant well weakly." Actually, Taft did more "trustbusting" than Roosevelt did, but TR got the credit.

Public service was a tradition of the Tafts.

Taft started the tradition of the President throwing out the first ball on the opening day of the major league baseball season.

Taft was the only President so far who was named to the Supreme Court after being President. He had also been Secretary of War prior to being President.

Helen Taft, the President's wife, was responsible for having the capital's famous Japanese cherry trees planted around the Tidal Basin. She was not a Unitarian.

William Howard's father, Alphonso Taft, who was Secretary of War and Attorney General in President Grant's cabinet, was an ardent member of the First Unitarian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, shown here.

William Howard himself played an active role there as a youth, but lived his adult life in the Washington, D.C., area, after serving as Civil Governor of the Philippines; he was one of the best colonial administrators of this or any other nation.

Mr. Taft was a member of All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, DC (shown below). The story is told that, at 300 pounds (and short), he had to have a chair put into the middle of the aisle, because he literally couldn't fit into the pews!

His son, Senator Robert Taft, a candidate for President in 1952, was not raised as a Unitarian, but in the faith of his mother.