John Adams, our second president, and Thomas Jefferson, our third, both died on the same day. These two former presidents died on July 4, 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Both Jefferson and Adams along with Benjamin Franklin were on the committee that helped draft the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson and Adams, who had worked together in the cause of independence, became bitter political enemies. They differed on nearly every issue and became opponents in the presidential race of 1800 where Jefferson defeated Adams who was running for a second term. The two men reconciled their differences during retirement and became close friends. These two Founding Fathers died within a few hours of each other on this day 180 years ago.