." >> this week on "q and a" david heidler and jean heidler a husband and wife historian team who have written many books together, the most recent about henry clay, a speaker of the house, a senator and a secretary of state who made numerous runs for the presidency in the early 19th century. >> jean heidler, can you give us a brief synopsis of who henry clay was. >> henry clay was perhaps the most important legislator in our country. i think that sums up his career. even though he is probably more famous for running for president five times and failing each time. his legislative career defined, not just him, but much of the agenda for the first half of the 19th century for the nation. >> david heidler, how many years was he in the house of representatives and how many years in the senate? >> well, his service in the house stretches from jefferson's administration through monroe's, so he enters madison's administration through monroe's, so he went into the house in 1811. brief interruption to go to ghent and negotiate the treaty of peace for britain for the war of 1812. returned immedi