Clayhoun

Clayhoun is the slash ship between Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun from the American History fandom.

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, though the war wasn't a total loss. In the Era of Good Feelings following the war, Clay proposed the American System, an economic plan which Calhoun supported at the time. 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 in return for helping John Quincy Adams win. 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, etc.) Calhoun also starting opposing parts of Clay's American System, the high tariff. 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
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. It also tends to get more attention around APUSH tests. It's probably the most popular ship for both Clay and Calhoun 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
FAN FICTION
 * unitaryexectheory has some excellent works
 * unitaryexectheory has some excellent works

TUMBLR

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, and John Calhoun was vice president twice.