On Thursday, February 17th, Prof. Casey Wheatland spoke to an Inklings gathering about Henry Clay’s political economy. One of the founders of the Whig Party and one of the most important American statesmen of the pre-Civil War era, Clay championed what he termed “the American System,” a program designed to promote economic development and unify the country. The talk was attended by 18 students and faculty members. According to one attendee, Dr. Wheatland’s talk was “accessible” and allowed members of the audience to ask “thoughtful questions” despite the complexity of the subject matter. Most of the questions centered around contemporary applications of Clay’s theories. One attendee described it “a successful, engaging event filled with rigorous academic discourse.”
