Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America

These are the words of the 11th president in his final annual message to Congress and they summarize his presidency. Though there are many fine presidential biographies, the words “page turner” do not usually apply, especially to a lesser known president like James K. Polk. But the second half of this book, which Walter Borneman calls The Conquest, falls into that category. Borneman deftly weaves together battle details of the Mexican War, the acquisition of California, the completion of the annexation of Texas, and the acquisition of the Oregon Territory into a seamless web of action and decision-making all revolving around the single-minded determination of a one-term president. I had read about the high ranking of Polk among historians. This book shows why.Not that Polk’s methods were always admirable. He wanted the United States to extend across the continent and started the Mexican War, then blamed it on the Mexicans. His two generals, Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor, were competent, even at times brilliant, leaders but Polk consistently put them down because they politically favored the Whigs, not his Democrats. At times Polk stood above party sectarianism but his tendency to micromanage kept him second guessing his military leaders in the field. (Borneman points out clearly how delays in communication at that time played a role in decisions made.) Polk’s acquisition of Oregon involved some bold-faced showdown tactics with Britain but he knew when to compromise when needed. A modern reader can critique Polk for his easy assumption of slavery and what looks today like greedy land-grabbing motivated by “manifest destiny.” But in the end Polk almost doubled the size of America. He did that and achieved all four of his goals that he set for himself at the beginning of his one term as president. Borneman is a great story teller about how that all happened. The reader is left to judge the morals and methods of James K. Polk.Borneman uses Polk's personal diary in a highly effective way. Several maps in the book are invaluable for following events. As the book’s subtitle suggests, Borneman points out that Polk not only transformed America but transformed the presidency. It was Polk who for the first time in our history got Congress to declare his war a justified one. Madison let the “war hawks” justify the War of 1812 but not Polk in 1846. For better or worse in modern eyes, Polk was a very strong executive and American history would never be the same. I recommend this well-written and absorbing book in the highest terms.

A good read about an interesting man. He did what he wanted as President. The author liked Polk or seemed too. Despite this, Polk's politics got in the way at times. A Democrat at a time Democrats kept and protected slavery. A good book overall, readable and a tragic end.Good thing about this book is one can get a sense of how transportation changed in the 1830s and 40s. Amazing thing steam was and the power of rails.This like many about this time show how revisionist historians liked to us about the Civil War. It as about S L A V E R Y. It was THE issue of southern Democrats and Polk was one.

As a presidential history buff, I often get asked who I thought was the greatest president, and not wanting to bring up the usual suspects (Washington, Lincoln, FDR, etc.) I would calmly say `James K. Polk.' There were two reasons for this, one, I wanted to say something that would shock them; and, two, he actually is one of the better presidents. He is the only president who accomplished all he set out to do*. The entire country would look rather different today if it were not for Polk.Walter Borneman does an incredible job capturing the essence of the eleventh president. A very sick child, he had to have gallstones removed when he was only eleven. He grew up on his father's slave holding plantation, and during his life, he would inherit twenty slaves. He would marry Sarah Childress, who would become the most active first lady politically since Abigail Adams. Polk was admitted to the bar and his first client was his own father.Borneman traces Polk's incredible rise to power as one of the young politicians that strongly followed Andrew Jackson's leadership. Jackson was so found of Polk that their relationship earned the young man the nickname `Young Hickory.' In 1823, he was elected to the state legislature where his speaking skills earned him his second nickname, `Napoleon of the Stump.'In 1825, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives, he became be a loyal ally of Andrew Jackson. During Jackson's second term, Polk was elected Speaker of House, where he earned a reputation for order and never challenged anyone to a duel. After two terms as the Speaker, Polk left Congress and was elected Governor of Tennessee in 1838; the last time Polk would win an election in Tennessee.Due to an economic downturn in the Van Buren Administration, Polk was voted out of office with all the other Democrats in 1840; he tried to reclaim his lost office in 1842 and failed. Then something remarkable happened in 1844, I divided Democratic Party gave a man whose political future seemed hopeless, a new shot. Polk was able to secure the presidential nomination away from a great many better known candidates, making Polk the first ever `dark hoarse' candidate**. As the Democratic nominee, Polk would go on to defeat Henry Clay in the general election. James Polk became the first president to achieve the office, before his fiftieth birthday."As the 1844 campaign shifted into high gear, the Whigs may well have despised James K. Polk, but at least they knew where he stood--particularly on the issue of Texas. For Clay, it was bad enough that he was repeatedly forced to deny that his same-day announcement with Van Buren against Texas annexation was merely coincidental and not evidence of another corrupt bargain. But Clay decided to clarify--as only he could--his position on annexation, it looked to some Whigs that, at best, their candidate was flirting with the increasingly popular mantel of expansionism and, at worst, trying to have the issue both ways." p.122Polk was the clearly the strongest President in between Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. He achieves everything he set out to do. Some of his lesser-known accomplishments were the reduction of tariffs, and the Independent Treasury. The Independent Treasury allowed the Treasury Department to be responsible for keeping and managing the nation's money itself and not have to act though any bank.One of Polk's larger accomplishments was the securing of the disputed Oregon Territory without any military conflict with the British Empire. Despite the famous slogan forty-four-forty-or-fight it became, according to Borneman, forty-four-forty-or-compromise.His most famous act came from the Mexican-American War, a war, which Mexico had been threatening since the U.S. first thought of annexing Texas. Polk put troops on the disputed territory and waited. When the attack came, known as the Thornton Affair after the young American officer in command, President Polk had his cause for war. His methods earned him many enemies, including a young Whig Congressman named Abraham Lincoln."That evening at a special Cabinet meeting, there was other dissension in the ranks. Buchanan presented a draft of his proposed dispatch to American missions abroad announcing the declaration of war. The secretary of state proposed to inform foreign governments that `in going to war we did not do so with a view to acquire either California or New Mexico or any other portion of the Mexican territory.' Polk for his part was incredulous. What Cabinet meeting had Buchanan been attending for the past year?" p.207The war went on for two years, ending with the U.S. taking a sizable chunk of territory in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo for fifteen million dollars. When the issue of slavery came up, Polk stated he did not think slavery was possible in the new territories but did not support the Wilmot Priviso to ban it.In 1848, even though the Whigs were against the war, they nominated Zachary Taylor, the general, for president. Even though President Polk did not run for re-election, health and a one-term pledge kept him out, General Taylor would never attack Polk in his victorious campaign against Lewis Cass and Martin Van Buren.Polk's post-presidency did not last long. He died after only a few months out of office, in his will he ordered that his slaves be set free when his wife died, but his wife lived all the way until 1891, which made that pledge irrelevant.I really enjoyed this book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. It is a fascinating book about a fascinating topic. The presidency of James K. Polk is one of the most accomplished on record.*You could, of course, argue that Abraham Lincoln accomplished more then he set out to do.**'Dark Horse' refers to a candidate who is not well known.

I'm a history buff but not a student of James Polk so I can't address the veracity or completeness of this book. What I read was a history as interesting as most political fiction, full of big characters with a complex, strong figure at the center. Now I understand why Polk is ranked among the “top 10” when historians evaluate presidents. Almost every president before Lincoln has a dreadful civil rights record: Native Americans, African Americans (especially slaves) and women don’t figure into political thinking for Polk or most other major players of the time. Setting aside that common flaw, we’re left with a very interesting story of political intrigues and characters worthy of a novel and events that shaped the country forever. Wonderful writing, entertaining and exciting. Highly recommended.

Walter R. Borneman has written a captivating account of James K. Polk, the expansionist president, who did much to acquire the western half of the country. He describes Polk asserting that he would serve only one term, having four main objectives and achieving all four of them in his one term. These included at the same time acquiring the Northwest (from England) and the Southwest, including California (from Mexico). The acquisition from Mexico required a war. This book displays the problems of long distance communication with 1840s technology. It indicates some of the personality clashes among top US officials in California and Mexico.Among many points made in these pages that I found interesting are: a proposal President Polk received for building a transcontinental railway (p. 179), that there was as yet no Secret Service (p. 283), that "several jars of guava marmalade" transformed two clashing personalities into friends (p. 289) and that "it was Polk's postmaster general, Cave Johnson, who initiated the concept of the prepaid postage stamp." (p. 322). I very much enjoyed this account of a hard working president who achieved in one term his four major goals, including adding to the country both the Northwest and the Southwest, including California. This book captivated my attention. I highly recommend it.

Superbly crafted from first to last. Holds the interest like fine novel. My knowledge of the period has been greatly improved

The author has a great command of the English language and I found it to be a very interesting read. I wasn't aware that Polk was such an influential President until I read this book. One of the better books I've read on a US President.

nice book to read

James K Polk is certainly one of the lesser known presidents, but after reading Walter Borneman's book "Polk" it is hard to see why that is. He increased the size of the United States by 38% during his term by adding the territories of Oregon, Texas, New Mexico, and California; and he extended the powers of the executive (the representative of the people) in the spirit of Jacksonian democracy. He accomplished all he set out to do in his Presidency: resolve the joint occupation of Oregon (which he did without war), aquire California, reduce the tariff, and establish an independent treasury. If a President is judged by how much he accomplishes his goals during his tenure, than Polk can be seen as one of America's greatest Presidents.On the other hand, Walter Borneman (who cleary has great respect and admiration for Polk) tends to downplay some of the weaknesses in Polk's presidency. He certainly glosses over Polk's obvious support of slavery and his commitment that the Missouri Compromise should be extended to the Pacific. Did he necessarily expand the United States for the purpose of expanding the influence of the slave states? Probably not, but he certainly belived in slavery's expansion. And, of course, we can't forget that the Mexican War was a war of agression on the part of the United States. Most historians will agree that the United States had no real reason to go to war with Mexico at that time. So his expansion of the United States has to be seen in these terms also.And, on a side note, Borneman also plays down John Tyler's post Predential role in the secession of Virginia shortly before the Civil War. Although he did chair a peace conference, he didn't agree with its resolutions and he actively ( I don't believe so reluctantly) pushed for secession. He is the only President to die as "an enemy" of his own country.But "Polk" is a fascinating book if you are intereseted in American presidential history. I would highly recommend it. It reads well and fast and you won't be disappointed.