John Adams, in a letter written to Fellow Founder Dr. Benjamin Rush in 1790.
The history of our Revolution will be one continued lie from one end to the other. The essence of the whole will be that Dr. Franklin’s electrical rod smote the earth and out sprang General Washington. That Franklin electrified him with his rod –and thenceforward these two conducted all the policies, negotiations, legislatures, and war.
Biography of John Adams from Adams National Historical Park (National Parks Service)