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Symbols & Mascots
Henry Clay, one of the most dominant politicians of the mid-nineteenth century, was nominated for President in 1824 and 1844. His nickname, “the old coon,” was a reference to his rural Kentucky roots. Taking a cue from William Henry Harrison and his popular log cabins, Clay sought rustic appeal by adopting the raccoon as his political mascot.
National Clay Minstrel, and Frelinghuysen Melodist. Philadelphia: George Hood, 1843.