By Alan Lytle
Lexington, KY – A select group of college seniors from across the country have spent this week in Lexington learning about the life and legacy of the Kentucky politician that history has dubbed the "Great Compromiser". The fourth annual Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship's Student Congress is taking place on the 200th anniversary of the lawmaker's ascension to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition to the history lessons, the students are fine tuning their own diplomatic skills. David Jones of Baton Rouge, is here representing Louisiana.
"We've gotten together and had conversations and disagreed, and stayed up to the wee hours of the night discussing politics and philosophical things and religion. And we are realizing that there are certain absolutes that we stand upon but there are also things that we are able to compromise on; giving us a greater insight into why Henry Clay was such an important figure in U.S. History."
The itinerary includes trips to Ashland the Henry Clay Estate, the State Capitol in Frankfort, and informational sessions at Transylvania University and UK's Patterson School of Diplomacy. School Director Carey Cavanaugh says the students are gaining invaluable experience that will certainly serve them whatever their chosen profession.
"The hope is that by the time this week of instruction is over, these students will leave and return to all of their states with a far better understanding of Henry Clay, a far better understanding and exposure to Lexington and to Kentucky, and some real life skills to use as they move into leadership positions in the future."
Henry Clay Week concludes Friday evening with a panel discussion featuring current House Speaker John Boehner, and his predecessors Nancy Pelosi, Denny Hastert, and Jim Wright. The sold out event gets under way at 7:30 at Transylvania's Haggin Auditorium.