Was Clay the best? I’d argue he’s tied in a race with two others. The Great Triumvirate (Clay, Webster, Calhoun) was legendary and represented West/North/South interests in their shaping of the nation. Reading their arguments and works outlines perfectly, in my opinion, how senators can compromise and work together for the different interests of their regions and people.
We readers are aware of OKAY’s feelings toward Calhoun; but there is a clear shift in his actions, language, and rhetoric post War of 1812 and his death.
Calhoun learned about secession from his studies at Yale, and helped keep the country together in the 1830s when the North was considering secession. Fascinating…of course, then he went full blown SOUTH WILL RISE. Minor detail…
BUT going back, I say Henry Clay is 1/3 of the greatest senator of all time— three cheers for the Great Triumvirate!
Was Clay the best? I’d argue he’s tied in a race with two others. The Great Triumvirate (Clay, Webster, Calhoun) was legendary and represented West/North/South interests in their shaping of the nation. Reading their arguments and works outlines perfectly, in my opinion, how senators can compromise and work together for the different interests of their regions and people.
We readers are aware of OKAY’s feelings toward Calhoun; but there is a clear shift in his actions, language, and rhetoric post War of 1812 and his death.
Calhoun learned about secession from his studies at Yale, and helped keep the country together in the 1830s when the North was considering secession. Fascinating…of course, then he went full blown SOUTH WILL RISE. Minor detail…
BUT going back, I say Henry Clay is 1/3 of the greatest senator of all time— three cheers for the Great Triumvirate!