{"product_id":"henry-clay-the-essential-american-9781400067268","title":"Henry Clay: The Essential American","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe epic life and times of one of the most important political figures in our history.  He was the Great Compromiser  a canny and colorful legislator and leader whose life mirrors the story of America from its founding until the eve of the Civil War. Speaker of the House  senator  secretary of state  five-time presidential candidate  and idol to the young Abraham Lincoln  Henry Clay is captured in full at last in this rich and sweeping biography that vividly portrays all the drama of his times.  David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler present Clay in his early years as a precocious  witty  and optimistic Virginia boy  raised on a farm  who at the age of twenty transformed himself from bumpkin to attorneya shrewd and sincere defender of the ordinary man who would be his eventual political base. The authors reveal Clays tumultuous career in Washington  one that transformed the capital and the country. Nicknamed the Western Star  Clay became the youngest Speaker of the House shortly before the War of 1812 and transformed that position into one of unprecedented power. Then  as a senator  he joined and sometimes fought John Calhoun and Daniel Webster to push through crucial legislation affecting everything from slavery to banking. Commonly regarded as the greatest U.S. senator in history  Clay served under ten presidents and overshadowed most of them  with the notable exception of his archrival Andrew Jackson. Clay ran unsuccessfully for president five times  and his participation in the deadlocked election of 1824 brought about the Corrupt Bargain with John Quincy Adams that made Clay secretary of stateand haunted him for the rest of his career. As no other book  Henry Clay humanizes Clays marriage to plain  wealthy Lucretia Hart  a union rumored to be mercenary on his part but that lasted fifty-three years and produced eleven children.  Featuring an inimitable supporting cast including Aaron Burr  Thomas Jefferson  James Madison  James Monroe  James Polk  and Abraham Lincoln  Henry Clay is beautifully written and replete with fresh anecdotes and insights. But it is Henry Clay who often rises above them all. Horse trader and risk taker  arm twister and joke teller  Clay was the consummate politician who gave ground  made deals  and changed the lives of millions. His life is an astounding taleand here superbly told.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45280140951605,"sku":"ByrdShop_140006726X","price":26.31,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781400067268.jpg?v=1780622681","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/henry-clay-the-essential-american-9781400067268","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}