Political Battles

Clay returned to Kentucky in 1821, remaining there for two years. He was reelected to Congress in 1823 and again became speaker. In 1824 he ran for President and finished fourth. No candidate received a majority in the electoral college, however, so the House of Representatives chose from among the top three. Clay threw his support to John Quincy Adams, the second-highest man, who thereby won over Jackson, the original leader. Clay became Adams's secretary of state. Since Adams represented eastern financial interests, whose views were opposed to those of Clay's midwesterners, Clay was accused of having made a traitorous deal. While secretary of state (1825–29), Clay was a strong advocate of Pan-Americanism, the movement to foster cooperation among nations of the Western Hemisphere.

Jackson defeated Adams for the Presidency in 1828, and in 1832 defeated Clay, who thus lost his second bid for the high office. In the meantime, Clay had been reelected to the Senate, in 1831.