I read a biography of John Quincy Adams. The man was groomed to be president by his parents almost from birth. JQA was intelligent and charming. His parents realized his uniqueness and pushed him to serve his country with every fiber of his being. This drive was passed down to his descendants and it was intentional. I am not sure what is the best way to encourage public service, but John Adams and his descendants for several generations served their country with all their ability and strength. Here is a couple quotes about passing down a legacy of public service to future generations.
Author of the renowned autobiography The Education of Henry Adams, Henry Adams passed summers with his grandparents at Quincy until he was twelve years old and would remember throughout his life "the effect of the back of the Presidents's [John Quincy Adams] head as he sat in his pew on Sundays."
It was unusual for boy to sit behind a President grandfather and to read over his head the tablet in memory of a President great-grandfather who had pledged "his life, his forture, and his sacred honor" to secure the independence of his country and so forth... The Irish gardener once said, "you'll be thinkin' you'll be President too."
p. 286 John Quincy Adams by Harlow Giles Unger
This is a quote by JQA to his children.
You must have one great purpose of existence...to make your talents and your knowledge most beneficial to your country and most useful to mankind. -- JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, "TO MY CHILDREN"
as quoted in p.313,
John Quincy Adams by Harlow Giles Unger.
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