John Quincy Adams - Argument in Amistad Case

A former president of the United States, John Quincy Adams took the case of the Amistad captives and argued its merits to America’s Supreme Court.  Justice Story, author of the opinion which freed the captives, told his wife that Adams’ argument was “extraordinary.”

In this clip, from the Amistad film, Anthony Hopkins delivers one segment of Adams’ lengthy argument.  It is a brilliant example of how to effectively use rhetoric in an emotionally charged setting.

Credits

From Amistad (1997), written by David Franzoni, directed by Steven Spielberg and released by Dreamworks.  Online, courtesy American Rhetoric's 100 Top Speeches.

The film features Djimon Hounsou (Cinque), Morgan Freeman (Theodore Joadson), Anthony Hopkins (John Quincy Adams) and Matthew McConaughey (Baldwin).  Cinematography by Janusz Kaminski.