"The question of character has always been a staple of presidential elections, but it became an especially prominent issue in 1824 as Jackson's people questioned Clay's and lauded Old Hickory's. The tactic succeeded in planting seeds of doubt about Clay....Clay had earned repute as an effective political broker, but that made it easy to paint him as a backroom dealer. Clay made no secret that he drank spirits, but that made it easy to whisper that he was a drunkard. He was famous for gambling, and that made it easy to depict him as reckless."
David S. Heidler & Jeanne T. Heidler, HENRY CLAY: THE ESSENTIAL AMERICAN (2010) p. 169.
Showing posts with label Henry Clay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Henry Clay. Show all posts
07 November 2010
18 June 2010
Book Note: Henry Clay
David S. and Jeanne T. Heidler have written a new biography of Henry Clay, the man who coined the phrase "I had rather be right than President."
David Heidler is a scholar who has been associated with Colorado State University since 1994. Here is his resume. Here is hers. Jeanne Heidler teaches at the Air Force Academy.
And here is a review of the new book, by a blogger who cautions that at 624 pages, "it's a long haul." But Larry Co, writing for Florida Weekly, is considerably more enthusiastic.
The authors have a joint facebook page here.
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