US Leaders: Quantity v. Quality

Three highly overshadowed people lurk in America’s distant past; three very skilled politicians remain unknown to the general populace; three effective leaders go unrecognized... Throughout the world’s history, people have lived and died, fought and loved, made differences, and existed; few of which are ever esteemed enough to have their name or picture in history books. In our increasing illiterate and uncaring culture, even these "cream of the crop" people go unrecognized, only a handful are household words. Three of these unrecognized greats were John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster. Beliefs, courage, skillful appeasement, effective speaking, logic and sense are all qualities inherent in the best leaders, and John, Henry and Daniel were no exception. All were the best of leaders, yet none were especially famous... until now.

"State Representative," "State Senator," "Secretary of State," "Secretary of War," and "Vice President of the United States" are titles sought after and esteemed in America. During their terms, the bearers of these titles can relax with the realization of their contributions to society. After their retirement, however, the fame and fortune fade away, the glamour is swallowed by the glorious repetition of everyday life. John C. Calhoun, who held each of the above titles, shouldn’t be forgotten in this way. Leadership skills require a backing of strong beliefs and courage to demonstrate to constituents and pave the way for change, and Calhoun possessed and made of use of both qualities in all of his endeavors. Although his ideals are not popular today, Calhoun knew what he believed him, and took a firm standpoint while bravely challenging high officials. Misconceived as a South-defending North-hater, Calhoun merely searched for solutions that would benefit the agricultural South and preserve its culture. The slavery debate raged in the years prior to the American Civil War, and Calhoun was knee-deep into the debate. He believed in the South’s possession of slaves, and was willing to go to extremes to preserve it. For example, Calhoun endorsed the nullification and secession programs, the first of which allowed a state of the United States of America to declare a law void within its borders should it contradict popular viewpoint. The second allowed a state to withdraw membership with the union should the nation pass unpopular legislation. Calhoun demonstrated his firm beliefs and courage when he directly challenged President Andrew Jackson after Jackson toasted, "Our Union: It must be preserved," during a Jefferson Day dinner. Calhoun responded with, "The Union next to Liberty the most dear. May we always remember that it can only be preserved by distributing equally the benefits and burdens of the Union." Calhoun, standing up for what he believed in, showed this leadership to his constituents, and gave them the motivation and courage to fight for their beliefs in the Civil War.

Minor disagreements on the governmental level grow. They deepen and widen the rift between parties, figures, and individuals; they produce radicals ready, willing, and able to execute any rash plan to achieve objectives; they can and have led to coup d’état and anarchy. Political moderators are needed in these domestic wars; neutral parties who can analyze both sides of arguments and draw up plans and compromises beneficial to both contenders. Henry Clay was one of few such men up to this difficult job who not only attempted but succeeded. As a Senator, Clay made the Compromise of 1850, which admitted California as a free state and left Utah and New Mexico to slavery or freedom on the principle of popular sovereignty. Prior to the compromise, the North and South had been on each other’s throats, each attempting to gain free and slave states, respectively. Henry Clay showed leadership as he made peaceful negotiations and skillfully appeased groups of people.

When a nation begins, the patriotism resulting from the revolution serves as a binding adhesive, holding all of the states together in a union. As this nationalism wears off, the glue dries and cracks, and the states begin to drift apart. During the years prior to the Civil War, the agricultural South began to drift away from the industrial North due to disagreements over slavery and western lands and states. Defeating the meaning of the term "union," nullification and secession were two of several dangerous aspects that the North attempted to completely avoid. Senator Robert Hayne of South Carolina was among the first to directly address the issues in Congress, and his assertions would have went unanswered and acquiesced to had Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts not stepped in. Five days after Hayne’s speech, Webster responded with a speech that "knocked the socks off of" the United States Senate.

Someone said that no one could really be as great a man as Webster seemed to be. He was not only one of the nation’s most skillful lawyers, but in the style of his time he was a tireless orator. He had a rich, deep voice and held his audience spellbound. His high forehead, thick eyebrows, burning eyes, and powerful form made him overwhelming and impressive in debate - a "great cannon loaded to the lips," Ralph Waldo Emerson called him. This particular speech, according to some listeners, was the most powerful ever given in the United States Congress.

(A History of the United States, pp. 232-233)

Such a figure was sure to become a leader for more than one reason. His skill at speech was one of the main reason, as well as his indisputable logic and sense. He was seen as a hero in the North, and "for generations, schoolchildren memorized [his] famous passages." (A History of the United States, p. 233)

Leadership isn’t luck - it’s skill, motivation, and initiative. It’s the desire of mankind to create a better world in which he and his brethren can live. Leaders shouldn’t only be recorded and glanced at, they should be studied, appreciated, and remembered...