Although the Undeclared War with France, or Quasi-War, the Alien and Sedition Acts, and the XYZ Affair are part of the plot, they are not named as such.
In the theatre scene, the lines being spoken by the actor are from the 1787 play "The Contrast," written by Royall Tyler. Tyler had been a suitor of Abigail "Nabby" Adams.
The second episode in a row to end with "Piano Trio in E Flat, Opus 100 (second movement)" by Franz Schubert.
In 2006, Giamatti played the subordinate Police Inspector Uhl to Rufus Sewell's Crown Prince Leopold in "The Illusionist". In this, Sewell plays the subordinate military officer Alexander Hamilton to Giamatti's President John Adams. In both, the superior is frustrated by the stubborn behavior of the subordinate.