Sen. Henry Clay, known as "the Great Compromiser," brought about the Missouri Compromise of 1820. House of Representatives historian Robert Remini says Clay's feat resulted from his ability to make each side — in this case, the South and North — feel as that it had won something in the bargain. Michele Norris talks with Remini, the author of Henry Clay: Statesman for the Union.
MICHELE NORRIS, host:
Fighting and making up are not all about nature. There is some nurture involved, and some people who have famously nurtured compromise. Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky was one of them. He first served in Congress in the year 1806, and then on and off until his death in 1852. He's known as the great compromiser. And perhaps his greatest work was the Missouri Compromise of 1820, bridging the gap between the North and the South over slavery. Many say it helped delay civil war for decades.
Robert Remini is a historian for the House of Representatives. He's also written a biography of Henry Clay. In his research, he's learned quite a bit about Clay's approach.
Mr. ROBERT REMINI (Historian): He explained that a compromise is something not brokered, you understand, where you say well, if you will do this, I'll give you something else. This is a way of facing an issue like slavery and saying what is your position, the opposition? If I have the majority and I jam it down your throat, that isn't going to solve the problem. You'll only come back when you're the majority and jam it down our throat.
