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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
I did not like this book but I think it was for a few reasons. I think James K. Polk is a boring president and aside from the Mexican-American War there isn’t much to talk about. Also, the writing of this book was dry and didn’t talk about him as a person as much as it was events that happened and other historic figures he was around.
informative
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
I finished this on my lunch break last night.
I found this book less dull than I expected, given others' reactions, and would have most likely given it four stars, except it skirted the Indian Removal aspect of expansionism. One sentence was given to that topic at the end of the book. Otherwise, an interesting and informative bio.
I found this book less dull than I expected, given others' reactions, and would have most likely given it four stars, except it skirted the Indian Removal aspect of expansionism. One sentence was given to that topic at the end of the book. Otherwise, an interesting and informative bio.
I think this is the most I have annotated a biography since Jefferson. His thoughts on the expansion of the United States and the career/connections of Fremont were very eye opening. Great read on the push of Manifest Destiny.
Pretty good read if you are A) a fan of presidential biographies; or B) a fan of this part of American history as much as I'm becoming. Particularly the 19th century from Andrew Jackson to Teddy Roosevelt. A monumental time in this country's history probably peaking in its greatness during the Civil War through the Industrial Revolution before the United States became a "world power" but was certainly concerned with goings-on outside its borders.
Polk's legacy is interesting. By no means was he reluctant in his duty and in following in Ol' Hickory's shoes, but he was adamant about serving one term and stuck to that. He certainly ruled like he was going to be there for four years. Polk was considered a "strong" president, using his veto at times, strong arming his policies including resolving the tariff issue in the south, establishing a treasury and, of course, expansion.
Actually, all things considered, and as slow as politics happened in the mid-1800s, it is certainly an accomplishment to get as much done as he did. "Strong" presidents, too, are often reckless and aggressive. That's certainly a criticism of Polk. The Mexican War was a unilateral decision by the president. Sounds familiar for those of us in the 20th and 21st centuries. Polk stacked his army men at the border and waited for the opportunity to attack. Once attacked, Polk sorta just whined to Congress saying, "See, we're already at war! Nothing you can do about!"
All for land. Mexico was reluctant to simply sell California so Polk decided to dump the nerd in the trash can and steal his lunch money. Mexico hadn't bombed the Maine or Pearl Harbor, taxed Americans unfairly, or gone to war with an American ally. They had something Polk wanted so he started a war for it. It cost a lot of money and lost (needlessly, I think) a lot of lives for the sake of a legacy, for a connection to the Pacific and trade to the Far East. The war, unbeknownst to Polk, was a staging ground for the Civil War as most of the generals of that conflict cut their teeth in the mountains and hills of interior Mexico. It also got the Whig, Zachary Taylor, elected president (the United States loves itself a general).
More disappointing was Polk's reluctance to tackle slavery, but he was not the only one. Polk admitted that he wished no one brought it up, like religion or Uncle Jack's alcoholism at the dinner table. Most politicians, like Polk, sorta shrugged at expansion and slavery, although most of those in the south certain scoffed at new lands as free states. I don't intend for Polk to have emancipated the slaves or openly fought for new states to be free. He was from Tennessee, a slave owner and still had a lot to gain by being notably pro-slavery considering he was not exactly well liked in his own state, particularly among pro-slavery voters.
Interesting aspect of slavery in this country during this time: It was never a moral issue for politicians. It was about the slave trade, slaves in new territories, attitudes and longitudes, compromises and states rights. Read enough about slave-owning presidents and you get an inkling that they were remorseful about owning slaves. Still, even the strongest of presidents cowed to the issue that tore the country apart.
Polk's legacy is interesting. By no means was he reluctant in his duty and in following in Ol' Hickory's shoes, but he was adamant about serving one term and stuck to that. He certainly ruled like he was going to be there for four years. Polk was considered a "strong" president, using his veto at times, strong arming his policies including resolving the tariff issue in the south, establishing a treasury and, of course, expansion.
Actually, all things considered, and as slow as politics happened in the mid-1800s, it is certainly an accomplishment to get as much done as he did. "Strong" presidents, too, are often reckless and aggressive. That's certainly a criticism of Polk. The Mexican War was a unilateral decision by the president. Sounds familiar for those of us in the 20th and 21st centuries. Polk stacked his army men at the border and waited for the opportunity to attack. Once attacked, Polk sorta just whined to Congress saying, "See, we're already at war! Nothing you can do about!"
All for land. Mexico was reluctant to simply sell California so Polk decided to dump the nerd in the trash can and steal his lunch money. Mexico hadn't bombed the Maine or Pearl Harbor, taxed Americans unfairly, or gone to war with an American ally. They had something Polk wanted so he started a war for it. It cost a lot of money and lost (needlessly, I think) a lot of lives for the sake of a legacy, for a connection to the Pacific and trade to the Far East. The war, unbeknownst to Polk, was a staging ground for the Civil War as most of the generals of that conflict cut their teeth in the mountains and hills of interior Mexico. It also got the Whig, Zachary Taylor, elected president (the United States loves itself a general).
More disappointing was Polk's reluctance to tackle slavery, but he was not the only one. Polk admitted that he wished no one brought it up, like religion or Uncle Jack's alcoholism at the dinner table. Most politicians, like Polk, sorta shrugged at expansion and slavery, although most of those in the south certain scoffed at new lands as free states. I don't intend for Polk to have emancipated the slaves or openly fought for new states to be free. He was from Tennessee, a slave owner and still had a lot to gain by being notably pro-slavery considering he was not exactly well liked in his own state, particularly among pro-slavery voters.
Interesting aspect of slavery in this country during this time: It was never a moral issue for politicians. It was about the slave trade, slaves in new territories, attitudes and longitudes, compromises and states rights. Read enough about slave-owning presidents and you get an inkling that they were remorseful about owning slaves. Still, even the strongest of presidents cowed to the issue that tore the country apart.
challenging
slow-paced
This was my first book on James Polk. I knew a bit more about his wife Sarah. I believe the author downplayed both couples views on slavery.
James Polk was not the healthiest of person. He was sickly as a child and had to endure a painful procedure dealing with kidney stones. A doctor made a cut into his scrotum, into his bladder and used forceps to remove the stones. James was a very studious boy, he went to The University of North Carolina and was engrossed in his studies. James would go on to become an attorney in 1820, his father, Sam Polk even provided his son his first case by managing to get arrested for public fighting. James secured his fathers release with a fine of $1.00. His father was so proud of him he payed for the construction of an office and law library for his son.
James was 24 years old when he meet 16 year old Sarah Childress. Sarah was well connected with the political scene, Sarah addressed Andrew Jackson and his wife as Uncle and Aunt. The two would never have any children, the thought seemed to lay with James, due to his kidney stone procedure. Sarah threw herself into her husbands career. She would attend congressional sessions, she was a very dutiful political wife.
Polk had dreams of becoming president, as early as 1839. His nomination in 1844 may have came earlier than he planned but he jumped at the opportunity. Polk was very upfront about being a one term president, as this was the social flavor of the day. He even wrote that he would not be a candidate for re-election and that he would retire to a private life after his term. Polk also expressed no interest in running for another term during his presidency. Polk would lose his home state of Tennessee in the election to opponent Henry Clay. Polk would win the presidency 170 to 105 victory.
President Polk was similar to a micromanager during his term in the White House. Polk had strict instructions for his cabinet that hasn't been seen before or since his time in office. He required the 6 cabinet members to sign an acknowledgement that they would support the principles and policies of the Democratic platform. Polk was determined to remain in Washington during his stay and demanded that his cabinet does the same. Polk also become the first president to reaffirm the Monroe Doctrine as a basic tenet of American foreign policy.
A burning issue of Polk's day was slavery, thanks to New England abolitionist. Polk was a slaveholder, as his wife. Polk seemed to have resisted slavery's injection into discussions of public policy far more than he resisted the institution of slavery. Polk went out of his way to keep his ownership and active slave trading a secret. He would continue to buy and sell slaves while in the White House. Slavery was the topic that he could not avoid during his presidency as he acquired new states, Oregon, California, Texas and New Mexico.
Abraham Lincoln was no fan of Polk's complaining over his victory that "if the Whig abolitionist of NY voted with us Mr. Clay would be president." Lincoln could not stand Polk's use of executive privilege.
The democratic party would change greatly from Polk's day. The party of Jefferson, Jackson and Polk with its opposition of federally funded internal improvements would become the party of FDR and the Great New Deal and LBJ and the Great Society.
At the end of Polk's term he was exhausted. He gave his all as a president and it reflected in his health. Polk generally suffered from gastrointestinal distress. Polk's ex-presidency last 103 days, the shortest of all. He died at age 53, with cholera being the cause. His last words were "I love you Sarah, for all eternity, I love you."
***Polk's younger brother shot and killed a man in Columbia. He received a 6wk jail sentence and a fine of $750.00
James Polk was not the healthiest of person. He was sickly as a child and had to endure a painful procedure dealing with kidney stones. A doctor made a cut into his scrotum, into his bladder and used forceps to remove the stones. James was a very studious boy, he went to The University of North Carolina and was engrossed in his studies. James would go on to become an attorney in 1820, his father, Sam Polk even provided his son his first case by managing to get arrested for public fighting. James secured his fathers release with a fine of $1.00. His father was so proud of him he payed for the construction of an office and law library for his son.
James was 24 years old when he meet 16 year old Sarah Childress. Sarah was well connected with the political scene, Sarah addressed Andrew Jackson and his wife as Uncle and Aunt. The two would never have any children, the thought seemed to lay with James, due to his kidney stone procedure. Sarah threw herself into her husbands career. She would attend congressional sessions, she was a very dutiful political wife.
Polk had dreams of becoming president, as early as 1839. His nomination in 1844 may have came earlier than he planned but he jumped at the opportunity. Polk was very upfront about being a one term president, as this was the social flavor of the day. He even wrote that he would not be a candidate for re-election and that he would retire to a private life after his term. Polk also expressed no interest in running for another term during his presidency. Polk would lose his home state of Tennessee in the election to opponent Henry Clay. Polk would win the presidency 170 to 105 victory.
President Polk was similar to a micromanager during his term in the White House. Polk had strict instructions for his cabinet that hasn't been seen before or since his time in office. He required the 6 cabinet members to sign an acknowledgement that they would support the principles and policies of the Democratic platform. Polk was determined to remain in Washington during his stay and demanded that his cabinet does the same. Polk also become the first president to reaffirm the Monroe Doctrine as a basic tenet of American foreign policy.
A burning issue of Polk's day was slavery, thanks to New England abolitionist. Polk was a slaveholder, as his wife. Polk seemed to have resisted slavery's injection into discussions of public policy far more than he resisted the institution of slavery. Polk went out of his way to keep his ownership and active slave trading a secret. He would continue to buy and sell slaves while in the White House. Slavery was the topic that he could not avoid during his presidency as he acquired new states, Oregon, California, Texas and New Mexico.
Abraham Lincoln was no fan of Polk's complaining over his victory that "if the Whig abolitionist of NY voted with us Mr. Clay would be president." Lincoln could not stand Polk's use of executive privilege.
The democratic party would change greatly from Polk's day. The party of Jefferson, Jackson and Polk with its opposition of federally funded internal improvements would become the party of FDR and the Great New Deal and LBJ and the Great Society.
At the end of Polk's term he was exhausted. He gave his all as a president and it reflected in his health. Polk generally suffered from gastrointestinal distress. Polk's ex-presidency last 103 days, the shortest of all. He died at age 53, with cholera being the cause. His last words were "I love you Sarah, for all eternity, I love you."
***Polk's younger brother shot and killed a man in Columbia. He received a 6wk jail sentence and a fine of $750.00
Focusing as much on the political and military actions of others taken during James K. Polk's presidency (1845-1849) this book was full of great information. Polk was a protégée of Andrew Jackson, thus his Young Hickory nickname, and a Democratic party player who pledged to serve a single term and pretty much accomplished all his stated goals in office, the annexation of Texas, Oregon and California, reduction in the tariffs, and an independent federal treasury all took place during or just before his term. Polk was a sickly boy, detail oriented and what we would call a micro manager today, limited however by the communication technology of his day. His wife Sarah was a one of the most active first lady's to date and carried his banner long after his death just a short time after leaving the office of the President of the US. One of the implementers of the notion of manifest destiny of the USA to span the continent he was a fairly shrewd navigator of the wild pre-civil war political landscape. It also turns out that the TMBG song was a surprisingly accurate and fitting summary of James K. Polk.
A one-term president who set goals for himself and pretty much tackled them all. (How many presidents can say that in modern times?) The most interesting part of Polk's tenure for me were the efforts to acquire California and Oregon. I think it said he expanded the U.S. by 38% (nearly double) at the time.