Continuing his efforts to form a political coalition strong enough to defeat the Jacksonians, Clay was successful in a Senate resolution to censure the president for unconstitutional exercise of power in removing government deposits from the Bank of the United States. But as the election of 1836 drew near it became evident that the emerging coalition could not defeat Democrat Martin Van Buren, Jackson's hand- picked candidate; as the Reign of Jackson drew to a close, Clay could only view the national scene with dismay.
Publication of this book was assisted by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Robert Seager II is professor of history at the University of Kentucky. Melba Porter Hay is a specialist in the history of Kentucky.