Lincoln Discussion Symposium

I am sure this is wrong, but I'll take a wild guess. Abraham Lincoln as described by Mary Lincoln?

This is such a smart guess, Roger, I'm sorry it's wrong. But the century is correct, and the person who gave the description is known as well on this forum as Mary.

Hint #1: The president once served as US Minister to Prussia.

Hint #2: Person #2 authored a biography of the president. He visited him in the early 1830ies.

Hint #3: Both were lawyers and also "shared" another office (not at the same time!!).

Hint #4: Both men were expansionists.

Was the president John Quincy Adams?

Excellent, Roger, that is correct! So, who is the other one?

Was the other person Charles Francis Adams?

Another excellent guess, Roger, but this time not correct. Roger first guessed Mary to be this person, but it wasn't her. But Mary indeed gave a (very First-Lady-unlike) "description" of the person who described JQA. She called the saught-after an "abolition sneak".

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Hint #6: He was an expansionist, and he DID expand the country.

Seward?

Kudos, Anita, it was Seward. Thanks for guessing. I guess (hope at least) you will like your and Roger's prize, which I think matches "expansion" (or exploration) pretty well.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S5sB4B2lCaQ
The New World Symphony, was composed by Antonín Dvořák in 1893 while he was the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America from 1892 to 1895. Neil Armstrong took a recording of the New World Symphony to the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The conductor in this video is the late Claudio Abbado (died on Jan.20).
(Antonín Dvořák's great-great-grandson, Istvan Dvořák, is almost my neighbor, a fascinating storyteller, and guess what - former ballet dancer and choreographer.)

Thanks Eva. Great prize. The New World Symphony has always been one of my favorites. How exciting that you know Istvan Dvořák!

A poston another thread just reminded me of what one president's father "drummed" into his offsprings: "Its not what you are that counts, but what people think you are."

Whose father said this?

Joseph Kennedy?

John Adams said this to John Quincy Adams?

Good idea, Roger, but Joe is right, kudos, Joseph Kennedy said this.