The legendary Senator Henry Clay (1777-1852) was once playing Poker in a fashionable Washington salon against the equally flamboyant lawyer and orator Daniel Webster (1782 -1852)
Webster dealt, Henry Clay drew one card, and Webster stood pat. They kept raising till each had $2000 on the table. Clay then called. Webster laughed sheepishly and said "I have only a pair of deuces". Clay laughed too and said "the pot is yours, I have only Ace High".
Another memorable Poker game on Capitol Hill occurred when President Grover Cleveland (1837- 1908) was playing against a number of cabinet colleagues including the secretary of the Navy Whitney, Senator Cameron, and Speaker of the House John Griffin Carlisle. Cleveland had been dealt a pat full-house and the opening betting was high. At the draw, Cleveland stood pat, Cameron, drew one card, but the Speaker Carlisle who had stayed in the betting drew FOUR cards.
After much banter and further betting, the Speaker Carlisle put down four Kings !
"Take the money" said the President, "If I am ever President again you shall be Secretary of the Treasury, but don't make that four card draw too often".
Cleveland did become President again in 1893, and Carlisle became Secretary of the Treasury.
