Chapter 6: The Corrupt Bargain

Chapter Summary: 

     This chapter begins with Andrew Jackson's accusation of his presidency being taken away by a "corrupt bargain" between secretary of state John Quincy Adams and Speaker of the House of Representatives Henry Clay. It speaks about a caucus among Republican members of Congress to elect a president, who nominated a sick William H. Crawford. Other nominees included Jackson, Adams, and Clay. The outcome of the election seemed certain: no candidate would receive a majority vote, so the choice would be given to the H of R, where each state would have one vote - 13 votes (majority) would win the election (according to the 12th Amendment). After the fall election, Clay was eliminated, and given the responsibility of deciding who would be the next president, as Speaker of the House. Clay saw Jackson as a "military chieftain," a future Napoleon, and if he was elected it would be "a triumph of the military over the civilian authority," even a triumph over "the liberties of the people." Strongly opposed to Jackson, with Crawford out of the picture, although he had disliked Adams' character in the past, he shared common interests with the secretary of state. He believed that if he elected Adams as president and Adams shared his agenda, a "coalition would be formed...that would guarantee passage of his American System and place [him] in line for the presidency." He needed to make sure that Adams shared his beliefs, so he arranged a meeting to discuss future endeavors. He shared with Adams that he favored him over the other candidates, and that he would support Adams if it could be useful to him. 
     In the election, Clay overturned the Kentucky legislature's vote for the western candidate (Jackson) and announced their support of Adams, despite Adams having gotten not one vote from Kentucky in the fall election. No candidate ended up having a majority, and when it came to the House to choose, Adams won on the first ballot. Adams nominated Clay as his chief of staff, furthering suspicions of corruption, and as the final straw, Clay accepted the position, as his dream was to become the president of the United States. 

Chapter Reflection: 

     There seems to me to be overwhelming evidence of suspicion that Henry Clay used "his enormous influence in the House of Representatives to induce the members to vote for Adams as president in return for which Adams would appoint Clay as his secretary of state, an office that had traditionally led straight to the White House." I understood their motives, and I feel it unjust that simply because Clay has a position of influence that he could convince the House to overturn the peoples' choice. That obviously goes against the principles of democracy. I liked Jackson's quote: "The Judas of the West has closed the contract and will receive the thirty pieces of silver." It reinforces the traitorous corruption and makes it seem more evil. Jesus = the voting population? I would like to learn more about this event, because I was confused in some parts about the election process and I would like to be better informed.