The crossword clue “president who wrote ‘Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it’” is looking for ADAMS , referring to John Adams.

Quick Scoop

  • The full quotation is widely attributed to John Adams , the 2nd president of the United States, in a message addressed to future generations (“posterity”).
  • Recent crossword helper and answer sites list the New York Times January 2, 2026 clue “President who wrote ‘Posterity! …’” with the 5‑letter answer ADAMS.
  • The clue is popular in online crossword communities and answer databases, where it appears as a relatively straightforward trivia-style entry tied to early U.S. presidential history.

Mini context and trivia

  • John Adams is remembered as a key Founding Father, prominent voice for independence, and president during the fragile early years of the United States, which fits the quote’s emphasis on the high “cost” of securing freedom.
  • Crossword sites often pair the clue with brief hints like “2nd President of the United States (1735–1826)” or simply describe it as a 5‑letter presidential surname, making it a fair entry even for solvers who only know basic U.S. history.

TL;DR: For “president who wrote posterity crossword,” the answer you want to fill in is ADAMS.

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