Two early leaders of the American Revolution agreed to share their dreams as a friendly pastime.

Their dreams gave them both personal and political/historical insights.

The dream-sharing process prepared the way for a crucial reconciling.

This Fourth of July not only marks America’s 250th birthday. It also represents the 200th anniversary of the deaths of country’s second and third presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who passed away within five hours of each other on July 4, 1826.

More remarkable than the patriotic timing of their deaths is the fact that several years earlier Dr. Benjamin Rush, a mutual friend and signer of the Declaration of Independence, foresaw their simultaneous deaths in a dream.

Despite both serving as visionary leaders during the early, perilous days of the country, Adams and Jefferson became political enemies with drastically differing ideas about America’s future and how to get there. This caused distress for other revolutionary figures like Rush who feared their titanic disagreements would be too much for the fragile nation to endure.

Rush took it upon himself in 1805 to engage with Adams, initiating a regular correspondence with him, and nudging him toward an eventual reconciliation with Jefferson. To accomplish this delicate diplomatic mission, Rush used a........

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