Campaign Trail Results: Game #795296
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 1844
- Player Candidate: Henry Clay
- Running Mate: John Sergeant
- Difficulty Level: Normal
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- James K. Polk | 200 | 1,359,797 | 49.69 |
| ---- Henry Clay | 75 | 1,262,391 | 46.13 |
| ---- James Birney | 0 | 114,384 | 4.18 |
| ---- John Tyler | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Answers:
- Martin Van Buren, Democrat and President until 1841, will be making a tour of the country to visit various friends and political figures. Will you extend the invitation for him to stay at your estate for a few days?It might be best if I don't appear overly friendly to leading Democrats. Especially one as unpopular as Van Buren.
- What points will emphasize in your acceptance letter, as you accept the Whig nomination for President?I support the annexation of Texas, so long as the admission of that state is paired with the admission of a free state. I will briefly mention that my positions on other issues are well-known and remain the same.
- What position will you take on the Texas annexation issue?This discussion has grown tiresome, but let me restate that I support the annexation of Texas.
- Regardless of your views on the banking question, many accuse your running mate of being too closely tied to the Second Bank of the United States, and too inexperienced in government. What is your response?Let's continue to emphasize our platform and my own experience in government, which dates to the War of 1812.
- There have recently been riots and armed clashes between nativists and Irish immigrants in Philadelphia and elsewhere. Do you have any plans to condemn the Irish violence in these episodes?We should condemn the apparent lawlessness of the Irish arrivals, and ask whether we ought to reconsider our generous naturalization policies.
- Cassius Clay, your cousin, has published a letter stating you are in accord with the abolitionist movement. How will you respond to this?We must attack Cassius Clay's statements at once, for the dishonest falsehoods that they are. I am in no way an abolitionist in this debate.
- There are a number of attacks which focus on your fondness for horse-racing, drinking, gambling, female conversation, and the like. Do you have a response to this?In anticipation of this attack, I've actually made some effort in the past year or so to scale back my amusements. I don't believe it is ever too late for a man to change their conduct.
- Do you plan to make any attacks against the Liberty Party, a radical abolitionist group that is fielding a third party candidate?I am steadfast against the annexation of Texas and the expansion of slavery. I believe that Birney's followers should be made aware of this point.
- Do you still support the idea that the federal government should purchase the telegraph patent and manage the technology?I've supported internal improvements throughout my career, but telegraph lines are a different thing. I trust that private individuals can build these.
- Was there really a bargain (a “Corrupt Bargain” to many) between yourself and John Quincy Adams which elevated him to the Presidency in 1825?I don't know how many times a man can deny an unjust allegation before fatigue sets in.
- Does it make sense to attack Northern Democrats as enablers and fellow travelers of the Southern slavery expansion?We should attack the Northern Democrats on their opposition to, or flip-flopping on, the issues of tariffs and internal improvements. They are on soft ground in that debate.
- Is there something you can do to give the Southern Whigs political cover from the incessant attacks that they are in league with an anti-slavery party?I am opposed to radicalism from any region, and that includes anti-slavery radicalism. The Whig Party is a national party with a national program that will benefit all regions equally.
- What should your party's position be on the Tariff of 1842, which increased tariffs?The primary purpose of our tariffs should be revenue. But should a small amount of protection incidentally occur from our tariff policy, that is acceptable.
- Do you believe that some revenue should be set aside from our tariffs to finance internal improvements, such as canals and roads?This is one of the key objectives of our current tariff policy, and I would support a strong infrastructure program as President.
- What is your current position on the banking system?I stand for a national bank or an independent Treasury -- whichever can gain the most support. I would require any national bank to maintain a branch in every state.
- Do you support an Amendment that would limit the President to a single term in office?I don't support an Amendment on this issue, but I will personally promise not to run for reelection.
- Do you support the lifting of the Gag Rule in Congress?Regardless of our feelings about the slavery issue, it is undemocratic for Congress to deny the people the right to petition the government. I believe the Gag Rule should be lifted.
- Would you sign a law that lowered tariffs below the level needed to protect American industry from foreign imports?Regardless of my personal feelings, it is not the place of the President to override the will of Congress, unless the law in question is unconstitutional.
- Do you support any changes to our current naturalization laws?I support our current naturalization laws as they stand.
- Do you support any effort to establish a unified, national currency?I support a national bank, and one clear argument for the bank is the total chaos we've had with our currency since 1837.
- After the unfortunate death of Abel Upshur in the Princeton explosion, John Calhoun succeeded him as Secretary of State. Was this a wise appointment by President Tyler?This is one of the most ill-conceived decisions I have seen in my lifetime.
- Regardless of your personal feelings, would you sign an act which established an independent Treasury for the government's funds?The independent Treasury is a halfway measure, designed to cover for the disaster that was the war against the Second Bank of the United States.
- What is your position on the Oregon boundary question?We need to be just as aggressive on this issue as we are anywhere else. “Fifty-four Forty or Fight!”
- Is there a particular state where your party should concentrate its resources and most talented speakers as the election draws near?Ohio
- Aside from the issue of Texas, do you support the expansion of the United States in general? Into Oregon, other parts of Mexico, Cuba, etc.?Oregon is a different issue than that of Texas. In Oregon we have an existing, legitimate claim.