The name of Sen. Henry Clay has already been mentioned several times in our lectures. Sen. Clay owned a large farm near Lexington, KY named "Ashland" which is now a state-owned museum. (Orininally 400 acres outside the city limits, it's now a much smaller parcel of land that is practically downtown on Main Street, just a short distance from Coach Cal's home). Clay was an important figure in Kentucky and Washington, D.C. for decades and earned the title "The Great Compromiser" (in a day before "compromise" was a bad word in politics) and was nominated for president three times (unfortunately losing every time, which prompted his famous saying, "I'd rather be right than be president!").
Far from being the only major contributor, however, Kentuckians have always played an important role in national politics, most notably in the Senate. This week's assignment is for you to research a senator from Kentucky (a list can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Senators_from_Kentucky) and report your findings. Where did the senator come from? What were his major contributions? To what political party did he belong? How long did he serve? What do you find most interesting about the senator?
This is the kind of assignment that some low-down and trifling weasels will be tempted to cheat on. Warning - I have google too, and will find you. And when I do, I'll give you a zero and post a link so everyone can see where you found the stolen information! Hint: if you use the copy/paste function at all, you are probably breaking a law. Don't do it; it's not worth the trouble!
I'd like to point out that, as you look at the list, there are some names that you might be interested in tracing. Kentucky's first senator, John Brown, for instance, set a trend. His descendants (John Browns all, though usually using the middle initial "Y", have been senators, governors, and major business leaders in the state (including one still alive and kicking in Lexington). One of the most interesting Kentucky families was the Crittendens (senators, vice president, and Civil War generals...on opposite sides!). Also the Breckinridges, whose story is similar. In downtown Somerset there's a statue (yes, that one) of Sen. John Sherman Cooper, who was Kentucky's longest-serving senator until Sen Mitch McConnel broke his record. And finally, Sen. Alben Barkley, who went on to be the vice president under Pres. Harry Truman.
NOW (drum roll, please) I wish to make an offer so unbelievable that NO ONE will believe it. You've heard of a homework pass? Please, that's kids' stuff. How about a TEST PASS? That's right, I said TEST PASS, as in "keep on trucking, you get the day off." Too good to be true? You can believe it...it's a real offer. What's the catch, you say? So small, it's hardly worth mentioning, but here goes: Kentucky is home to some important Lincoln sites, as mentioned above. Also, near the KY/TN border in Harrogate, TN on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University (alma mater of great KY author, Jesse Stuart!) is a very impressive Lincoln museum. IF, by October 15, you create an in-person video blog of a visit to one of those three locations (birthplace, childhood home, museum) - and no, old family videos don't count, it must be current - I will exempt you from a 2nd quarter test (semester exam not included) or will DROP YOUR LOWEST SECOND QUARTER TEST GRADE IF YOU TAKE ALL TESTS! If you plan on vacationing near another significant Lincoln site (Gettysburg, Springfield IL, etc) and would like to do the project there, call, email, or text for special permission. The video blog must have educational merit, proving that you've spent some time learning at the site.
Now - give this assignment your best, and God bless!
Democratic U.S. Senator, Ben Mitchell Williamson was from Pike County, Kentucky. He went to Bethany College in West Virginia and became a hardware salesmen then banking and of course was a Kentucky coal miner before he was elected a democratic U.S. senator. He was the founder of Kentucky Crippled Children's Commission and also was a member of the board of charities and correction in his home state of Kentucky. He also became the director of the International Society for Crippled Children. He served as a senator from December 1, 1930, to March 3, 1931. He was never a candidate to run for a full term. After his time as a senator he came back to Kentucky and went back to being a hardware salesman in Ashland, Kentucky. Although, he was not a senator for long I thought that his involvement in charities made his life very interesting. He spent a large portion of his life caring for Kentucky Crippled Children's Commission and being involved in various charity organizations. He died in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1941 at 71 years old.
ReplyDeleteJohn Stuart Williams: He was from Mount Sterling in Kentucky and he graduated from the Miami University in Oxford. John Stuart Williams was in the Mexican-American war and his nickname was “Cerro Gorro Williams”, because he was very brave in this war.
ReplyDeleteWilliams was also involved in the Civil War, where he arranged a brigade of cavalry and he helped to offer resistance against the Ambrose Burnside’s invasion of eastern Tennessee.
In 1851 and 1853 he was a member of the House of Representatives. John Stuart Williams was a leading proponent of states rights. He was the senator of Kentucky from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1885 and his political party was democratic. He also was an anti-secessionist and he didn’t like Abraham Lincoln’s policy.
Williams didn’t become governor of Kentucky, but he was presidential elector. John Stuart Williams was not reelected and so he went back to his agriculture.
He was committed in the land development of Florida. Later Williams and his partner Walter N. Haldeman founded the town Naples in Florida.
I chose this Senator of Kentucky because he spent much time of his life in the Mexican-American War and in the Civil War, and he also founded a Naple.
In July 17, 1898 he died at the age of 80 in Mount Sterling.
I want to know all about this beautiful state so I decided to talk about the attual Senator of Kentucky; his name is Randal Howard "Rand" Paul. He was born on January 7, 1963 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has a political family, infact when Paul was 13, his father was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He is the first United States Senator in history to serve alongside a parent in the U.S. House of Rapresentatives. He graduate in the Duke University School of Medicine but he continue to practic as ophthalmologist in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He took a medicine degree in 1988 at Duke University School of Medicine. In 2010 he candidate himself as Republican for the United States Senate. He founded the anti-tax organization Kentucky Taxpayers United (KTU) in 1994. Paul sworned in on January 5, 2011 to serve the House of Rapresentatives. He is really christian so he is opposed to the abortion; he took a strong position and he allow the state to decide what to do about it without federal involvement.As christian he opposed to same-sex marriage too but another time he decide to allow the Kentuckian the right decision.
ReplyDeleteYes. us "low down trifling weasels" hahhhahahahhahah
ReplyDeleteHappy Chandler:
ReplyDeleteAlbert Benjamin “Happy” Chandler was born in Corydon, KY on July 14, 1898, to Joseph Sephus and Callie (Saunders) Chandler . He later went to Transylvania College to pursue a career in professional baseball, but eventually received a law degree. After he graduated, he became a politician and was elected as a Democrat to the Kentucky Senate in 1928. After two years he was elected to lieutenant governor and served under Governor Ruby Laffoon. After enduring much disagreement over sales taxes, Chandler was convinced he was destined to be president. He challenged the Senate Majority Leader Alben Barkley for his seat in the US Senate, but lost a close race when President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to Kentucky to campaign for Barkley. Chandler became a senator when Marvel Mills Logan died in office; he disagreed with Roosevelt’s New Deal. He later came home to Kentucky to become a governor in 1955. Some major accomplishments of his were the integrating of baseball with Jackie Robinson’s contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, integrating the public schools in Kentucky, and being the oldest person inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He died June 15, 1991, one month before his ninety-third birthday.
John C. Breckinridge…
ReplyDeleteBorn January 16, 1821 – May 17, 1875 in Cabells dale near Lexington, Kentucky. He Graduated from Centre College in 1839 and then went to the College of New Jersey or today Princeton University. Soon after he studied at Transylvania University in law, and then he was admitted to the Bar in 1840.
When the civil war broke out he served as a confederate army general, he also served as the 5th and last confederate secretary of war. Later he moved to Burlington, Iowa and then back to Lexington, Kentucky. He also married Mary Burch in Georgetown Kentucky; He was in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1849 as a democrat. He didn’t run to be reelected but was offeres to be minister of spain but was then declined.
Breckinridge wasn’t successful in running for president when he ran in 1860. He basically had no support from the Northern states he still outpolled Dougles in the election, he came into the war as a general and later became and later became major general. John Brekinridge fought with Braggs army he thought of him as incompetent and dumb not being able to handle things the way they should be handled.
Why dont they have to write 200 words? Thats dumb.
ReplyDeleteAlbert Benjamin Chandler (Also known as Happy Chandler) was born in Corydon, Kentucky on 1898.
ReplyDeleteHe represented the U.S.Senate and served his 44th and 49th governor. He was elected Democrat to the Kentucky Senate on 1928.
He was convinced that he will be president of U.S.A so He challenged Alben Barkley for his U.S senate seat but during the campaign the president Roosevelt came to Kentucky to campaign for Barkley and Chlander lost,
He tried three more runs for governor in 1963, 1967, and 1971 but they were all unsuccesful.
Chandler died in Versailles on June 15, 1991.
I choose him because his nick name was happy and also because i found interesting that besides being a political guy he was also a baseball commissioner. He had been the oldest member of the baseball hall of fame and was the longest-living former Kentucky governor.
Willi Nowak hahahahaha
ReplyDeleteThe Senator from Kentucky that I chose is Martin D. Hardin, son of Colonel John Hardin (who Hardin Co. is named for) and Jane Daviess. He was our first and last Federalist Senator from Kentucky. Although born in Western Pennsylvania on June 21, 1780, he moved to Kentucky with his parents at age six. After that he attended Transylvania Seminary in Lexington. While there he got his law degree and was admitted to the bar opening practices in Richmond and Frankfort. Hardin was an active politician serving in the House of Representatives from 1805-1896 and in 1812. He also was the Kentucky Secretary of State from 1812-1816.His U.S. senate “reign” began when he was appointed and elected to fill the vacancy of William T. Berry, who resigned. Hardin went on to serve in the senate from November 3, 1816-March 3, 1817. After that he went back to serve in the Kentucky senate for two years. And was Kentucky Speaker of the House from 1819-1820. He was also father to John J. Hardin a state representative and militia general. Martin Hardin’s grandson would also play matchmaker to future President Abraham Lincoln, for it was at his house that he met Mary Todd. Hardin died in Frankfort on October 8, 1823 at age 43 with the titles major in the War of 1812, senator, representative, and speaker of the house.
ReplyDeleteRichard Mentor Johnson was born October (my birthday month ;)) 17, 1780. He, his parents, and his eleven brothers and sisters lived in a settlement called Beargrass, Kentucky. Johnson was the fifth child of Robert Johnson and Jemima Suggett. Johnson was a House representative, Senate delegate, and a vice president during his political career. While he was in the Senate Johnson was a big part of the Relief War. The Relief War came about by the Panic of 1819 (a five year depression). Johnson also opened the Choctaw Acadamy during his time in the Senate for the education of Indians. He served in the Senate from 1804 to 1806. Johnson was a “War Hawk” and was a strong contributor in the War of 1812. He rallied up volunteers himself and attacked Fort Wayne and went on to burn down the Potawatomi villages. An interesting fact about Johnson was that he never actually married his wife. Julia Chinn was a slave left to him by his late father and because of her being a slave it was against the law for him to marry her. After several years of Julia being Johnson’s mistress though, she became his common law wife. Richard Mentor Johnson died of a stroke November 19, 1850 during his second term in the House.
ReplyDeleteJohn ’one-arm’ Pope:
ReplyDeleteJohn got his nickname when he during his youth lost his arm. He was born in Virginia in 1770, and came to Kentucky to studied law, which he also did in Washington. John ’one-arm Pope’ was elected to the House of Representatives’ in 1802 and served again in 1806 and 1807. John served in the united states senate as a republican from 1807 – 1813 and from 1825 – 1829 he served in the Kentucky senate. He was also elected as a Whig, a republican party that fought for independence, three times. He was also a governor in Arkansas and secretary of state in Kentucky. Pope was married to president John Quincy Adams’ sister in law. John ’one-arm’ Pope died in Springfield Kentucky in 1875…
First of all was this man the first one i saw one the side and i thought he sounded very interesting. It sounds like this man has accomplished a lot in his life and have been in office for lots of times, and i don’t think it had been easy to live with one arm only. It was also funny how his name is the same as John Pope from the sophomore class.
- Josephine Pedersen.
John Sherman Cooper (GOP) was a U.S senator from Somerset KY. He stated his political career in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1927 he would later go on to spend a total of twenty years in the U.S. Senate. Copper was against the Vietnam War and for civil rights and voted for much of what became the civil rights act.
ReplyDeleteHe also served diplomatic purposes and was even a U.S. ambassador to East Germany. In Somerset there is a lot of John Sherman Cooper things here like; John Sherman Cooper power plant; this is because cooper had a lot of influrnce on somerset ant the rest of this area
John Brown, who was Kentucky first senator. He was an American lawyer and statesman, involved with creating the state of Kentucky. He represented Virginia in the Continental Congress and the US Congress; that time, he introduced the bill granting statehood to Kentucky. And it was accomplished, so this is why he became Kentucky US senator.
ReplyDeleteJohn Brown was born in Augusta County, Virginia; he had a good education. In the middle of his life, he studies was interrupted in the war, but after he continued to study the law in the office of Thomas Jefferson near Charlottesville, Virginia.
He married Margaretta Mason in 1799. He had five children, but only two lived to adulthood. I think this is interesting, but it is so weird. Five children, three died! Unbelievable.
He belonged to Democratic-Republican Party. He became a Virginia senator first, served from 1783 to 1788. Then the Virginia legislature sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress. After, the US Constitution became effective, he was twice elected to the US House of Representatives, and he served from 1789 to 1792. After that, he finally became a Kentucky senator, served from 1792 to 1805. During that time, he re-elected twice.
And there was another interesting thing is he was defeated when he re-elected to be a senator. And that time, he retired to the Liberty Hall. This is so interesting, retired to the Liberty Hall. Anyways, this is pretty much about the first senator’s life. He died in 1837.
Henry Clay:
ReplyDeleteHenry Clay was born in April 12, 1777 Hanover County, Virginia and died at June 29, 1852 in Washington D.C. . He had 11 children with his wife Lucretia Hart. He was a member of the Senate, the House of Representatives and he also was Secretary of State from 1825 to 1829. He was one of the war hawks who wanted a war with Great Britain. In 1803 he was elected as a representative of Fayette County Kentucky. Three years later ,in 1806, the Kentucky legislature elected him in the Senate. Nobody thought about his age and so he was kicked out of the Senate soon, because he did not reached the minimum age of 30. After his return, he was elected the Speaker of the House of Representatives. After another member of the House of Representatives voted against a law he enforced, he challenged the guy named Marshall to a duel. In 1811 Clay was elected in the United States House of Representatives. Something very uncommon happened at his first day. He was elected Speaker of the House. In 1816 he and some other people found a colony for free American slaves, called Monrovia, today the name of the Colony is Liberia. Clay was elected a Senator again in 1831. On June 29, 1852 he died because of tuberculosis.
@ Bobby
ReplyDeleteI like your essay and I think it is good, that you have chosen a person who is not to old. I think also that it is interesting, that your person was an ambassador in East Germany. It is also good, that you have chosen a person who is famous here in Somerset! The only problem with your essay is, that it is a little short. Next time you should remember the 200 words we always write.
@ Cindy Yu
I like your essay, about the man who gave Kentucky statehood. This is a very important part in the history of Kentucky. I also think that it is a good idea to talk about his private life. Your are right, it is very interesting, that he retired to the liberty hall! You did a very good job at your essay there are all important information you need about this person.
The Kentucky state senator that I am going to write about is John Cooper. I was so excited to read that he was from Somerset Kentucky, and went to Centre and Yale. Some of his contributions or accomplishments was he was “known around the world” in a way. Along being a Kentucky state senator, he was an ambassador to India and Nepal, and he was one to Germany, he was the second one after the first. To the political party, he was a Republican, but many people called him or acknowledged him to be a liberal Republican. John Sherman Cooper served as senator three times to Ky. He served November 7, 1956 – January 3, 1973, November 5, 1952 – January 3, 1955, and November 6, 1946 – January 3, 1949. This senator really was interesting to me. In my essay it made him sound that he really cared about his family even though everything seemed like it fell apart. He was a well educated man who knew what was important and in l the long run it all paid off. Through not just being the senator three times but also being a Senator in other countries, and he was from our city Somerset, Kentucky.!!!!
ReplyDeleteAmanda I liked your essay, I think it was well written and very informational. It seems like all the senators were well educated and went to college (which sometimes I think we need to think and try to follow in their footsteps) over all very good job to you!!
ReplyDeleteMarta, it thrills me for you to want to know more about our state, It is also very cool that you met the senator, Rand Paul. I can tell you put a lot of effort in this essay and it was very informational with all the information about Rand Paul. I am so glad you are interested in Kentucky and want to learn more about just like we want to learn more about your country, Italy!!
Christian, Henry Clay was a well known senator, to the state of Kentucky. It is a good thing that he noticed the slavery, and it is sad that he died of tuberculosis. Good Job!!!
In my essay this week I will be talking about our states current senator, Rand Paul. Rand Paul is a Republican and part of the tea party movement. The tea party movement is recognized by conservative and libertarian. It mostly consists of reducing government spending, opposition to taxation, reduction of national debt, and adherence to the Constitution. Many well-known Tea Party advocates include Sarah Palin, Dick Armey, Eric Cantor, and Presidential candidate Michelle Bachman. Rand Paul was born on January 7, 1963 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to Carol and Ron Paul. The Paul family moved to Lake Jackson, Texas when Rand was 5 years old and that would be where Rand was raised, until the year of 1990 when Rand met his wife, Kelly Ashby, in Atlanta, Georgia. They then were married and moved to Bowling Green Kentucky where they reside today. Paul was an ophthalmologist before starting in politics and owned his own medical practice in Bowling Green Kentucky. In my opinion Rand Paul has showed Kentucky and America you don’t have to major in politics to become a politician, but you just have to work hard and not give up and then anything is possible. Rand and Kelly have three sons: William, Duncan, and Robert.
ReplyDeleteChristian,
ReplyDeleteGood essay about Henry Clay. I learned stuff from it. All his life, what he did, a lot of things are included in your essay. Great one. I really like it.
Bethany,
John Cooper, who was from Somerset, Kentucky. Good choice. I like it a lot. The specific years are very clear in your essay, great job. And the feelings from yourself, you showed all of them in your essay, nice one.
K. Sellmaier:
ReplyDeleteVery informative! Williams seems to have been very involved in our history's politics. (P.S. I love Naples, Florida)
Bethany:
Thats really cool that someone from our area got to travel the world and be an influence. It's inspireing to hear of peoples' success that came from where you live. You did a really good job.
Josephine:
I didn't know that Jon Pope was Senator haha. Good job on your essay, I learned something new.
Amanda:
Brekinridge didn't have a successful career did he? :) Good source of information.
Nathaniel:
Great job, I enjoyed your essay and agree that if you work hard enough you can be successful in anything.
Cindy:
It must have been an honor to have been Kentucky's very first Senator. It is very sad that he lost three of his children, but early death in those days was very common.
Bethany-I really enjoyed your essay because John Cooper was from Somerset. It was very interesting to know that he went to Centre and Yale. Anyway, great essay!
ReplyDeleteEmma-I enjoyed your essay as well! I thought it was really cool that Ben Williamson worked as a hardware salesman and was a coal miner before being a senator. Good job!
Katharina- I really enjoyed your essay, too! I think it’s pretty awesome that a senator from Kentucky founded an awesome vacation spot, Naples, Florida! Great job on the essay!
Catelyn-I liked your essay, too. I think it’s really awesome that he helped integrate baseball and was the oldest inductee to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Great job!
Christian- I liked your essay because Henry Clay was born in April like me I also think it’s interesting that he was elected Speaker of the House on his first day in the House. Great job!
@ Christian,
ReplyDeleteI thought your essay was very informative. I really learned a lot from it. I thought it was interesting how when he was voted into the House he was actually too young to serve. I liked how you mentioned that he helped start the colony Liberia. I liked how you gave a full description of his life. Henry Clay was really the one who started Kentucky’s influence in the U.S. Senate.
@ Nathaniel,
I liked how you chose to talk about a current U.S. senator from Kentucky. Rand Paul definitely is a true Washington outsider. When he won the election it was a victory for the tea party movement. I like how you said that he shows that you don’t need to be political to win in politics. Although he isn’t perfect, I think that Rand Paul’s election shows a sign of change in America, an America governed by the common man
Randal Howard “Rand” Paul was born on January 7, 1963, and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rand is Kentucky’s current Senator and has been since January 3, 2011; he belongs to the republican-party. Rand Paul was born into a political family and actually was thirteen years old when his father was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree at Duke University School of Medicine in 1988. Rand has continued his medical career of opthamology in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Rand Paul is opposed to matters such as homosexual marriage, abortion, and federal government involvement in health care. He is apart of the Tea Party Movement which is an American populist political movement focused on reducing government spending, reduction of national debt, and adherence to the Constitution. Rand Paul is the first Senator to serve in company with a parent in the U.S. House of Representatives. Yay.
ReplyDelete