Thomas Adams. Thomas Boylston Adams of Lincoln, an historian, became a surprise candidate for the Democratic ranks two years ago, admittedly due to Barry Goldwater's GOP presidential aspirations. Adams has been a "regular" at the Democratic forums and has made Vietnam his top campaign issue. A World War II veteran, he is president of the Adams Securities Company of Boston and is a Harvard faculty member attached to the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology. He is married to the former Ramelle Cochrane and they have four children.