Executive Office of the President
Proclamation 11022 of April 10, 2026 Day of Celebration in Honor of the Life of Henry Clay, 2026 A Proclamation On what would have been his 249th birthday, we honor the life and enduring legacy of Henry Clay—a true American original, whose incredible vision and lifetime of devoted service to our Republic helped forge the very Union we cherish so deeply. Born in the midst of the Revolutionary War on April 12, 1777, Clay rose from humble beginnings in Virginia to stand among the most consequential statesmen this country has ever produced. He represented the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the United States Congress, where he became the driving force behind what became known as the American System, championing strong protective tariffs to defend and develop domestic industry, a sound national financial structure to support growth and commerce, and Federal investment in roads, canals, and other internal improvements to bind the Nation together. The American System served as a practical blueprint for national strength, national unity, and national self-reliance. Henry Clay understood that our Nation's political independence must rest on a firm foundation of economic independence. He knew that sovereignty is never merely political. It is industrial. It is financial. It is commercial. He understood that when a Nation can no longer make what it needs, move what it makes, or defend the workers who sustain it, that Nation risks losing not only prosperity, but independence itself. Throughout his time in public office, he never wavered in his fight for America's economic independence during the most formative years of our country. Clay would go on to wield the gavel as Speaker of the House and serve with distinction in the Senate, and in 1825, he assumed the office of Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams. Throughout his career, he was nominated for President three times—shaping the national debate with each campaign and contributing significantly to the …
Citation: 91 FR 20575
