HBO's "John Adams"

House Speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., from right to left, Tom Hanks, executive producer of "John Adams", House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Paul Giamatti, the actor portraying John Adams, chat before the screening of the HBO film "John Adams" at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 5, 2008.

Actor Tom Hanks, executive producer of "John Adams", stands outside of the U.S. Capitol, with the Washington Monument in the background, before the screening of the HBO film "John Adams" in Washington, Wednesday, March 5, 2008. The miniseries chronicles the life of the second U.S. president and the first 50 years of the United States.

House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, talks with Paul Giamatti, the actor portraying John Adams, before the screening of the HBO film "John Adams" at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Giamatti stars as the nation's second president.

From right, actors Paul Giamatti and Tom Hanks shake hands as they arrive at the HBO premiere of the TV miniseries "John Adams" at the Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York. Giamatti stars in the title role of the show, which airs March 16. Hanks is a producer.

Actor Paul Giamatti arrives at the HBO premiere of "John Adams" at the Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York. Giammati has won numerous awards, including an Oscar nomination, for his role in "Cinderella Man." He also won awards for his star turn in "Sideways."

Actor Tom Hanks, a multiple Oscar winner, arrives at the HBO premiere of "John Adams" at the Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York. He was among the executve producers of the miniseries, which chronicles the life of the second U.S. president and the first 50 years of the United States.

Emmy-winning director Tom Hooper attends the New York premiere of the first two parts of his HBO miniseries "John Adams," held at The Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York.

Actor David Morse arrives at the HBO premiere of "John Adams" at the Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York. Morse plays George Washington in the TV movie, which also stars Laura Linney as Abigail Adams and Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin.

Tom Hanks talks to the media at the HBO premiere of "John Adams" at the Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York.

Actress Eva Amurri arrives at the HBO premiere of "John Adams" at the Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York. She is the daughter of actress Susan Sarandon and director Franco Amurri.

Actor Justin Theroux arrives at the HBO premiere of "John Adams" at the Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York. The "Six Feet Under" actor plays John Hancock in the historical miniseries.

Actress Mamie Gummer arrives at the HBO premiere of "John Adams" at the Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York. Gummer, who plays Sally Adams in the movie, is the daughter of Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep and Don Gummer.

From left, actors Paul Giamatti, Tom Hanks and author David McCullough arrive at the HBO premiere of "John Adams" at the Museum of Modern Art, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York. McCullough wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Adams on which the series is loosely based.

This is the real John adams, as seen in his Gilbert Stuart portrait. Adams was a leader in the American Independence movement, George Washington's vice president and the second U.S. president. Exhibits are being mounted at the Massachusetts Historical Society and Vassar College Library in connection with the HBO series.

Paul Giamatti in a scene from the HBO special "John Adams." The first two of the miniseries' seven parts airs March 16. The movie follows not only Adam's life and the early history of the U.S. but also explores the partnership between Adams and his wife of 54 years, played by Oscar nominee Laura Linney.