Henry Clay was one of the most popular politicians in 19th-century America. His skillful practicality in political matters earned him the nickname "The Great Compromiser." He managed, among other political feats, to forestall the outbreak of the American Civil War by at least a decade through his ability to work effectively with both sides in heated political contests.

Glass is an amorphous, inorganic substance made by fusing silica (silicon dioxide) with a basic oxide; generally transparent but often translucent or opaque. Its characteristic properties are its hardness and rigidity at ordinary temperatures, its capacity for plastic working at elevated temperatures, and its resistance to weathering and to most chemicals except hydrofluoric acid. Used for both utilitarian and decorative purposes, it can be formed into various shapes, colored or decorated.