Notes to Consider- 6. John Quincy Adams (Republican) 1824-1828 Foreign Policy Big Idea: Secretary of State Clay

Previously, I had ended the Founding Brothers Era of American History with President James Monroe. A few months ago however, I listened to the case made by fellow Jackson Countian and historian Howard Muncy that President John Quincy Adams deserved to be in that list of presidents. As son of John Adams, JQA began as a boy accompanying his father on diplomatic trips abroad; going so far as travelling on his own as part of a US delegation to Imperial Russia at the ripe old age of 14. Yes, Howard. I now agree John Quincy Adams earned the right to be counted among our “Founding Brothers” presidents.

JQA’s single term was defied by the contentious Presidential Election of 1824. The overwhelming favorite, Democrat Andrew Jackson garnered a plurality of Electoral College votes among the four candidates, but not a majority. Following the Constitution, the decision then fell into the lap of the US House of Representatives.

The Speaker of the US House (and one of the presidential candidates not securing a majority of electoral votes) was at that time none other than Kentucky’s own Henry Clay. Prior to the vote among the state delegations being tallied, (Still to this day, each state — no matter how large or small — casts a single vote.) Clay urged his supporters to vote for Adams. After JQA’s come-from-behind performance in the House, Clay was then named US Secretary of State in the new Adams Administration. Did I mention four of the first six US presidents had been Secretaries of State prior to becoming president? Andrew Jackson and his supporters swore revenge.

John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay went to their graves denying what Jackson’s advocates labeled the “Corrupt Bargain.” As the nation’s top diplomat, Clay had some success in dealing with the newly independent Latin American nations, but he was in no way the “big fish” as he had been in the Legislative Branch.

Next week, we’ll take a look at the lengths to which the Jackson operatives within our national government went to sabotage the JQA Administration; and Henry Clay moved on to the US Senate in the 1830s…But never the White House.

Next Week: President John Quincy Adams’ Domestic Policy Big Idea

Shane Morris is a retired soldier and teacher. Contact at sigm11@yahoo.com (Subject: NtC)