[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 4, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S763-S764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE HENRY CLAY CENTER FOR STATESMANSHIP AND THE KENTUCKY 
                        DISTILLERS' ASSOCIATION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, last night I had the honor of speaking 
at a bourbon event hosted by the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship 
and the Kentucky Distillers' Association here in Washington, DC. This 
event was for Kentuckians and by Kentuckians and featured the so-called 
``Bourbon Barrel of Compromise'' that had been delivered from Ashland, 
the Henry Clay Estate in Lexington, KY. I would ask that my remarks at 
that event last night be entered into the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                             [Feb. 3, 2015]

              Leader McConnell's Remarks at Bourbon Event

       Thank you, Robert [Clay, co-chairman of the Henry Clay 
     Center for Statesmanship].
       It's a pleasure to be here to celebrate the spirit of 
     Kentucky--literally. Tonight we honor two of Kentucky's most 
     important gifts to the nation: the drink that is Bourbon 
     whiskey and the revered statesman Henry Clay. I'm glad to be 
     here to talk about both.
       There are a lot of good Henry Clay stories, but let me 
     share one of my favorites--a story that demonstrates Clay's 
     sense of humor and quick wit.
       On one occasion, a long-winded colleague of Clay's, 
     Alexander Smyth of Virginia, was giving a speech. He turned 
     to Clay in mid-speech and said disdainfully, ``You, sir, 
     speak for the present generation; but I speak for 
     posterity.''
       Without batting an eye, Clay retorted, ``Yes, and you seem 
     resolved to speak until the arrival of your audience.''
       Taking that wisdom to heart, I will be brief.
       I want to thank the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship and 
     the Kentucky Distillers' Association for hosting this grand 
     event--not only tonight's affair, but shipping a barrel of 
     Bourbon whiskey from Henry Clay's estate in Ashland to 
     Washington, DC, just as the Great Compromiser reportedly 
     often did some two centuries ago.
       The history of Bourbon whiskey and the legend of Henry Clay 
     have long been intertwined. It is said that whenever Clay 
     went to Washington, he carried a barrel with him, to 
     ``lubricate the wheels of government.''
       Clay is also credited with writing the first historical 
     recipe for the mint julep and introducing it to the public in 
     this very hotel.
       He recorded in his diary his own method for making the 
     cocktail. Clay called for ``mellow bourbon, aged in oaken 
     barrels'' and also instructed that ``the mint leaves, fresh 
     and tender, should be pressed against a coin-silver goblet 
     with the back of a silver spoon.''
       The historical record also shows that Clay used Bourbon as 
     an aid to legislating. One observer from that era recalls 
     witnessing Clay and fellow Senate great John Calhoun sipping 
     whiskey in the Old Senate Chamber.
       Together they would drain their glasses behind the vice 
     president's chair--and Clay, with good humor, would say to 
     Calhoun, ``Well, Mr. Senator, I will admit that you have had 
     the better of me today; but I'll be your match tomorrow.''
       Legend also holds that Clay's oratorical skills were often 
     enhanced by his consumption of Kentucky's favorite beverage. 
     Some have said that it is the lime in the water used to make 
     Kentucky Bourbon that lends both Bourbon whiskey and Clay's 
     oratory their special flare.
       Whatever it may be that gives Bourbon whiskey its unique 
     taste, Kentucky is proud to be the birthplace of Bourbon.
       The drink itself is named for Bourbon County, where the 
     product first emerged. Kentucky produces 95 percent of the 
     world's Bourbon supply, and Kentucky's iconic Bourbon brands 
     ship more than 30 million gallons of the spirit to 126 
     countries, making Bourbon the largest export category among 
     all United States distilled spirits.
       Bourbon also gives much back to Kentucky. It is a vital 
     part of the state's tourism and economy. Many a visitor to 
     the Commonwealth has traced the famous Kentucky Bourbon 
     Trail. And the industry is responsible for nearly 10,000 jobs 
     in our state.
       And both Bourbon and Clay have one thing in common: They 
     excel at bringing people together in a spirit of compromise.
       I'd like to think that this Kentucky spirit of compromise 
     lives on in the Senate today. With the new Senate of the 
     114th Congress, it's great to see some real debate on the 
     floor of the Senate once again.
       It's been great to see both sides able to offer amendments 
     once more.
       I know many of the Democratic Senators are glad to be able 
     to give more of a voice to their constituents too. I believe 
     they welcome our vision of a Senate where we're doing some 
     real legislating.
       A more open Senate presents more opportunities for 
     legislators with serious ideas to make a mark on the 
     legislative process. It can give members of both parties a 
     real stake in the outcome. And it helps lead, I hope, to 
     greater bipartisan accomplishments down the road.
       Just because we have a Republican Congress and a Democrat 
     in the White House

[[Page S764]]

     doesn't mean we can't deliver for the American people. On the 
     contrary--divided government has frequently been a time to 
     get big things done. That's something Henry Clay would have 
     well understood and appreciated.
       Because principled compromise across party lines was very 
     familiar to Henry Clay.
       Three times in the early years of the American Republic, 
     the split between North and South threatened to tear the 
     country apart. And three times before the Civil War finally 
     began, Henry Clay kept the nation together, through 
     compromise and negotiation.
       Were it not for his leadership, America as we know it may 
     not exist today.
       The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship rightly keeps his 
     spirit of compromise alive today through its education 
     programs for high school and college students. The Center 
     teaches Kentucky's future leaders about Henry Clay and the 
     art of meaningful dialogue and discourse.
       It makes me proud as a Kentuckian to see Henry Clay's 
     legacy live on, whether it is through the Clay Center, 
     through the U.S. Senate, or through all of us here today.
       It makes me proud as a Kentuckian to see the imprint the 
     Bluegrass State has made on the history of this country. Not 
     only Clay, but famous Kentuckians like Abraham Lincoln. John 
     Sherman Cooper. Alben Barkley. And the recently departed 
     Wendell Ford.
       And it makes me proud as a Kentuckian to see how many other 
     Kentucky traditions have made a lasting imprint on our 
     country. Not least of which is the Run for the Roses on the 
     first Saturday of every May.
       So thank you for allowing me to be here tonight. And thank 
     you for taking the spirit of Kentucky with you wherever you 
     go.
       Good night.

                          ____________________