Clayhoun

Clayhoun is the slash ship between Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun from the American History fandom. This ship has a bit of popularity on Tumblr history blogs.

Canon
In history, Clay and Calhoun had an on and off again friendship. The two were notably different. Henry Clay was a social butterfly, enjoying drinking, card games, dancing, making puns, and playing the fiddle. Calhoun was serious and studious, with no sense of humor. However, both were brilliant minds and important figures in early American politics. They make up two thirds of the Great Triumvirate

In the beginning of their long careers in politics, they were roommates in the War Hawks Mess, a boarding house with like minded congressmen. They both supported the War of 1812, after British soldiers kept attacking American ships. Clay, though just a freshman representative, became speaker of the house. When America finally went to war, it quickly became a disaster and a blow to the War Hawks' confidence. However, Clay and Calhoun set their sights to higher offices

They began to have a falling out in 1824, with the "Corrupt Bargain" allegations against Clay, who became Secretary of State. Calhoun believed the rumors, and settled on a different, much more problematic, agenda (defending slavery, defending the idea that states could just ignore federal law, defending slavery, etc.) The two allied in short intervals of time, but the two were usually at each other's throats. Their anger continued until they were withered old senators. However, at the end of Calhoun's career (and life), the two shared a hug that temporarily washed away the venom. John Calhoun once said "I don't like Clay. He is a bad man, an imposter, a creator of wicked schemes. I wouldn't speak to him, but, by God, I love him!" When Calhoun died, Clay allegedly gave his eulogy.

Fanon and Headcanons
Clayhoun is popular on the history side of Tumblr. It tends to be painted as a much happier and healthier relationship than it would be. There are multiple headcanons for the ship including but not limited to:


 * Clay loudly proclaims his love for Calhoun while drunk
 * Clay tries the worst pickup lines on Calhoun
 * Calhoun just sucks at flirting
 * In congress they're either at each others throats or in each others arms. No in between.
 * Sometimes they get into a political debate so heated they kiss

Fandom
AO3:

unitaryexectheory has some excellent works

Tumblr:

fauvester has some really good Clayhoun stuff if you look

Trivia

 * President Andrew Jackson hated both Clay and Calhoun. When asked if he had any regrets, Jackson replied "I didn't shoot Henry Clay, and I didn't hang John C. Calhoun"
 * The C in John C. Calhoun stands for Caldwell.
 * Henry Clay's mouth was rumored to be so large he could "Talk out of one half and kiss someone with the other at the same time"
 * There is a one inch height difference between the two. Clay was 6'1. Calhoun was 6'2.
 * Henry Clay ran for president over three times
 * John Calhoun was vice president twice
 * THEY DID NOT AGE WELL
 * THEY DID NOT AGE WELL