Richard Adar

President Adar, portrayed by Colm Feore. (credit: Sky One / Sci-Fi Channel)

Richard Adar was the last president of the Twelve Colonies before the Cylon attack in the re-imagined Mini-Series. He likely died, along with the Quorum of Twelve, and his Cabinet -- in total, 42 officials in line of succession, during the attack which precipitated the near extinction of the human race.

Adar was serving his second term as president, and had previously served as a mayor (Mini-Series). President Adar is succeeded by the 43rd official in line of succession, the Secretary of Education, Laura Roslin, who was sworn in during the immediate aftermath of the attack aboard her government transport, a passenger liner desigated as Colonial Heavy 798. She was appointed as President by way of the automated Case Orange government continuity mechanism via wireless.

Prior to this, Adar had faced some political strife for military actions, the details of which are still unclear, which he himself apparently regretted. He reportedly wrote down the names of all the casualties of this act, leaving it in his desk as a reminder of his fallibility. President Roslin emulated her predecessor in this regard by writing the name of the ship Olympic Carrier down and leaving it in her own desk aboard Colonial One as a reminder of her own fallibility (Water).

Another of his actions in office was to offer a full pardon to Tom Zarek in exchange for the latter's renunciation of violence; Zarek turned down the offer (Bastille Day).

He was also an influential friend to Gaius Baltar (Mini-Series).

Commander Adama considers President Adar "a moron" (Home, Part II).

Notes

• Adar's counterpart in the original series was the president of the Quorum of Twelve and held the same name.
• According to SkyOne, Adar's first name is "Richard". Earlier in his political career he was Mayor of Caprica City, during which time he lead the city out of a high-crime, corrupt slump and back to its full potential. He later ran for Governor.
• Adar is the name of the 6th month in the ecclesiastical year and 12th month of the civil year in the Hebrew calendar.
• The original script for "Home, Part II" called for Adama to refer to Adar as a "prick", but the line was edited to comply with broadcasting decency standards.