A scene from “Unnecessary War”

Timothy Pickering: [after he and James McHenry fail to convince Adams to go to war with France] Your stubbornness will be our ruin. You would surrender our party's interests to Mr. Jefferson and his so-called Republicans.

John Adams: And you, sirs, are subservient to Hamilton, who ruled General Washington and would rule me if he could. Mr. Jefferson, whom you despise, is an infinitely better man. I would rather be vice president under him or resident minister to the Barbary pirates than be indebted to a creature such as Hamilton for my present post! Now, your immediate resignations will be accepted, gentlemen.

Timothy Pickering: I do not feel it my duty to resign.

John Adams: Excellent, excellent. Then you leave me with the far more satisfying remedy of removing you from office. Both of you.