Answer:
Henry Clay
Step-by-step explanation:
Henry Clay became secretary of state as part of the "corrupt bargain" of 1824. In the election of 1824, no candidate won a majority of electoral votes, so the decision was left to the House of Representatives. Clay, who was Speaker of the House at the time, threw his support behind John Quincy Adams, who was elected president. In return, Adams appointed Clay as his secretary of state, a position that was seen as a stepping stone to the presidency. The deal was called the "corrupt bargain" because many believed that Clay's support for Adams was motivated by the promise of the cabinet position.
Sources
- "John Quincy Adams: American Visionary" by Fred Kaplan
- "The Age of Jackson" by Arthur Meier Schlesinger
- "Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times" by H.W. Brands