Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America

by Walter R. Borneman

In Polk, Walter R. Borneman gives us the first complete and authoritative biography of a president often overshadowed in image but seldom outdone in accomplishment. James K. Polk occupied the White House for only four years, from 1845 to 1849, but he plotted and attained a formidable agenda: He fought for and won tariff reductions, reestablished an independent Treasury, and, most notably, brought Texas into the Union, bluffed Great Britain out of the lion’s share of Oregon, and wrested California and much of the Southwest from Mexico. On reflection, these successes seem even more impressive, given the contentious political environment of the time.

In this unprecedented, long-overdue warts-and-all look at Polk’s life and career, we have a portrait of an expansionist president and decisive statesman who redefined the country he led, and we are reminded anew of the true meaning of presidential accomplishment and resolve.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Biography, History, Presidents, Nonfiction, American History, Us Presidents, Politics

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2008

About the author

Walter R. Borneman, b.1952, an American historian and lawyer, is the author of well-known popular books on 18th and 19th century United States history. He received his B.A. in 1974 from Western State College of Colorado, and received an M.A. in history there in 1975 for a thesis on "Irwin : silver camp of the Ruby Mountains"; in 1981 he received a law degree from the University of Denver, and practiced law. His latest book, published in May 2012, is The Admirals Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King--the 5-star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea.
wikipedia

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, and I learned a lot about a period of time I really didn't know anything about.

This book focuses mostly on Polk's presidency - he's out of the House of Representatives by page 40 and has completed his term as governor of Tennessee by page 51 - but I really like how he put it all together. There are a whole bunch of things I need to know more about, but it's always good when a book sends you down a rabbit-hole toward a bunch of other books.

A few notes:

- The Clay vs Polk presidential election was great. Clay vs Tyler (the first VP to ascend to president) was really interesting, and something else I knew nothing about. As a Kentuckian, I should know more about Clay, and I'm going to have to finally read the Remini books on him and Jackson.

- I have read a lot about James Buchanan's presidency, but this book was a peek into his life while he was Polk's Secretary of State. You can already see the character flaws that helped make him our worst-ever president.

- This is a very funny book. The Santa Anna double-cross is hilarious. And it's amazing how different the world was in this era right before the emergence of the telegraph. It took as long as 40 days for dispatches from the Mexican War to make it to Washington, meaning decisions were being made in both places based on spotty information. It made for some amusing stories.

- As a boy, Polk had major surgery less than two miles from my house!

- Borneman makes the Mexican War fascinating. I'm going to have to learn more about it.

- Opposing political candidates in the 1840s would frequently travel together to a town to campaign, hammer each other all day to the crowds, then get up the next morning and travel together to the next town. Hard to imagine now.

- Abraham Lincoln makes a fascinating appearance in the book as a freshman congressman who spent his term lambasting Polk because he thought the president was stepping too far with his war powers. He would soon walk a mile in the other's shoes.

- I'm a sucker for presidential rankings, and Polk's name frequently ends up near the top. And deservedly so - he stuck to his one-term promise (when he could have probably won re-election), and did everything he set out to do with no scandals.

- I'm a long-time visitor to Polk's tomb in Nashville, and didn't realize that he was first buried at Polk Place, which no longer exists. After doing some digging I found out that there is a current movement to move Polk's body to Columbia, TN, a place he lived a few years and location of the only surviving house he lived in. I hope they don't do that, but they also really need to spruce up his tomb and the location around it. He is a top ten president (IMO) and the place he's buried is frequently half-caked in mud and seemingly in rough shape.

[Jeremy Perron · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.122

Polk 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.207

The 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.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://bestpresidentialbios.com/2014/...

“Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America” is the fifth of ten books by historian and lawyer (and mountaineer!) Walter Borneman. He is more frequently the author of books on 18th and 19th century US history, but has also written on mountain climbing in his home state of Colorado. Borneman’s most recent book is “The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King – the Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea” published in 2012.

Remarkably, this 2008 biography of James Polk seems to be the first comprehensive work on the eleventh president for at least several decades prior to its publication. This is surprising given the impact of Polk’s presidency on the nation’s geographic breadth and his expansion of the power of the presidency itself. Well worth the wait, Borneman’s biography is an articulate, comprehensive and interesting examination of Polk’s life, and his one-term presidency in particular.

As is true with most presidential biographers, Borneman clearly admires his subject and extols his many accomplishments as chief executive (notably, completing his four key goals relating to Oregon, California, tariffs and the treasury). But while the author is also undoubtedly delighted at Polk’s growing popularity and enhanced reputation among the American public in recent years, this is no highhanded hagiography – though it isn’t quite a warts-and-all confessional, either.

While the focus of this book is clearly James Polk, the author is careful to provide enough background and context to fully prepare even a layman jumping into Polk’s life (and era) for the first time. The Jackson and Tyler presidencies, in particular, are thoughtfully summarized in a way that sets the stage for the more detailed discussion to follow of Polk’s presidency.

Borneman’s review of the Democratic convention in 1844 (at which Polk was chosen as the party’s presidential nominee) was excellent, as was the more succinct synopsis of the presidential election itself. In addition, the author often did an excellent job of crystallizing complex circumstances into a few clear observations; on more than one occasion this clarified things I had read in previous biographies but didn’t quite understand.

But while I appreciated the book’s background and stage-setting, several readers have fairly observed that the biography occasionally feels like a survey course focused on the history of the 1830s and 1840s. And although the author often does an excellent job avoiding excessive detail, there are a few occasions where this hazard is not escaped. Much like the conflict itself, the discussion of the Mexican War (as an example) seems to drag on interminably.

The author’s emphasis in this book is squarely on Polk’s presidency and, to a lesser extent, his years as a budding politician in both Tennessee and Washington DC. What’s notably missing is a similar focus on Polk’s earlier years – they capture less than two-dozen pages. Perhaps there is little primary material to draw upon for a more comprehensive exploration of these years? The author never confesses.

Though few readers will notice, Borneman also fails to fully highlight the odd (but fabulously interesting) dynamics generated by cantankerous president-in-waiting Buchanan’s tenure as Polk’s secretary of state. Also missing was a more consistent mention of James’s wife, Sarah, who was described in the next-to-last page of the book as a first lady unequalled during the ninety-six years between Dolley Madison and Edith Wilson.

Overall, Walter Borneman’s biography of James Polk is a straightforward and often fascinating examination of one of our nation’s most effective and consequential presidents. While not perfect, this book does an admirable job humanizing an introverted and occasionally colorless man who enjoyed an incredibly assertive and dynamic presidency. For anyone interested in a comprehensive and engaging look at the life of James Polk, Walter Borneman’s biography is a safe bet.

Overall rating: 4 stars

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Polk, I learned from Walter Borneman, set four objectives for his presidency and achieved all of them. Two of those objectives resulted in a 38% increase in US land mass, fulfilling the manifest destiny yearnings of his era. Polk ranks high among historians but is unknown among the general population. Andrew Jackson, his mentor, accomplished a lot less and lives on in the national consciousness and the $20 bill.

This book won't bring Polk's legacy forward, but for those who are interested it does a good job of defining his presidency. The book shows how Polk met the constraints any manager meets, the biggest of which are people problems. A century before Peter Drucker, Polk demonstrates the ability to set a goal and focus.

Borneman does little to define Polk's character or personality. You do not feel you know Polk, nor any other key people of this time. One example is that while Sarah Polk's name appears here and there and is defined in 2 page summary at the end, the reader really doesn't see what that role is. Is she an assistant or hostess? Confidante or an advisor? What did she influence and how?

Polk's cabinet and army included not just rivals but contenders for his position. Each had a reason to minimize his achievements. With Polk's death, so soon after his presidency, this has to be a big factor in halting his influence and historical presence. Polk, also, had no heir carry his flame. He had no wealth to found a university or hospital. There was no constituency with an interest in preserving his name.

If his presidency were to be viewed today, among the general public, Polk might still not achieve the status the historians accord him. Americans, proud of their coast to coast country, might not approve of Polk's means of achieving it. Also Polk was not only a slave owner, but also was a preserver of the status quo on this issue.

This book can serve as a basis for later works. Its author puts forward a lot of important material. Borneman didn't inspire my interest in Polk, (and irritated me with nick names - "Old Bullion", "Rough and Ready", "The Red Fox") but he did pique my interest in this less heralded period of American history.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, The Mexican War, and the Conquest of the American Continent by Robert W. Merry and Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter R. Borneman at the same time, alternating chapters.

I posted a combined review here, under the Merry book.

[Aaron Million · Rating 3 out of 5]

James K. Polk is mostly forgotten nowadays, jumbled into the commonly overlooked period of American history between the Revolution and the Civil War. In the first half of the 19th century, the figures that history mainly remembers are Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun and, to a lesser extent, John Quincy Adams. Jackson was the dominant President of this period, with historians often referring to it as “The Age of Jackson”. Polk, a protege of Jackson, is barely remembered, and even less well-understood. Walter Borneman argues that Polk was actually a dynamic figure who greatly expanded both the territory of the growing United States and the power of the Presidency.

Borneman's argument is a solid one. As far as that goes, he succeeds in his mission. Polk was just a step below that of warmonger. He wanted to acquire territory, whether by diplomatic means, military might, or money; it was all the same to him. If he could accomplish his aims without armed conflict, fine. But if a war is what was required to gain land, then so be it. He did not blink twice about that. Or even once. Polk allowed the annexation of Texas, put into place by his predecessor John Tyler, to proceed. He could have revisited that issue, but Tyler had accomplished what Polk most assuredly would have had it been left to him. His next focus was on acquiring what is now California and New Mexico, while pushing the boundaries of Texas as deep as possible, cutting into Mexican territory. Simultaneously, he provoked war with Great Britain over the Oregon Territory (present-day Oregon and Washington). Prior to his election, Polk committed to only serving one term (imagine anyone doing that today, although it certainly is still possible). Thus, while in one respect becoming a lame duck, in another he was free to expend 100% of his political capital and not care if a certain action or appointment were found to be unpopular. This allowed him to pursue his reckless course of land grabbing.

While Borneman does a good job in laying out how Polk administered his presidency, as a full-fledged presidential biography, he falls short of the mark. He breezes through Polk's early years, barely stopping to expound on what Polk was doing. He was elected to the House of Representatives seven times, and served two of those terms as Speaker. Yet, Borneman does not write about what Polk actually did while he was a Congressman, or any notable achievements or actions taken while he was Speaker. He was then elected Governor of Tennessee. Again, what did he do? We do not know, as Borneman focuses more on Polk's correspondence with Jackson and others than he does on his actions in office.

Another disappointing facet of this book is that Borneman never stops to probe what kind of person Polk was. What was he like? What were his personality traits? Other than appearing to be stubborn and hard-working, who knows. Polk had a barbaric operation to remove urinary stones when he was 16 years-old. This was in 1812. I won't even describe what was done to him, it is that heinous. And this was way before any anesthesia or even the rudiments of modern medicine. But Borneman quickly moves the story along, saying that Polk “recovered quickly”(page 8). Given what the operation entailed, I find that hard to believe. At the very least, it had to have affected him to a great extent. And, given the fact that Polk and his wife Sarah remained childless, it makes one wonder if the operation resulted in Polk being sterile.

A glaring omission here is that Polk's status as a slave-owner is perfunctorily reviewed, at best. Borneman acknowledges that Polk owned slaves, but really does not go beyond that. Why did Polk own slaves? What were his relations like with his slaves? We do not know. Nor does Borneman posit any theses. He does note that, towards the end of his life, in Polk's will he stated that, if he outlives Sarah, he wants his slaves to be freed at his death. But, given Polk's declining health by this time, and his always frail physical constitution to begin with, this seemed to be an unlikely occurrence. Did Polk have some basic moral regret at owning other people? Again, we do not know. To say that Borneman goes so far as to excuse Polk's moral obtuseness and his constant pushing of political matters over personal would be to go too far. Yet Borneman does not take Polk to task for this. The closest he comes is when discussing Polk's machinations with Gideon Pillow during the War with Mexico. Pillow was a Polk loyalist and, just as important to Polk, a Democrat. Pillow got into scuffles with General Winfield Scott, Minister Nicholas Trist, and others. But Polk always gave strong credence to whatever puffery Pillow provided him, rather than dispassionately reviewing all relevant materials before making decisions and judgments about people.

Borneman concludes with good chapters about Polk's extremely brief post-presidency, and his presidential legacy. Polk was quite enfeebled by the time his term as President ended. He and Sarah embarked on a month-long trip home to Nashville, going around the Southern states. Polk died in June 1849, just a little over three months after leaving office. Borneman believes that Polk most likely died of cholera, brought on by a combination of him being physically exhausted already and never being in robust health to begin with. This is probably the case. However, Borneman never considers that Polk may have been greatly sickened by the almost poisonous White House water supply of the day. Take a look at the deaths of Zachary Taylor, Polk's successor, and, later, Abraham Lincoln's son Willie. (An aside on Lincoln: on page 289 Borneman states that “Lincoln chose not to run for reelection in 1848”. Well, that's not quite true. Lincoln had entered into a gentlemen's agreement with two other Whig politicians in Illinois to rotate terms in office so all three had an opportunity to serve. Lincoln had wanted to run again, and probably would have if not for the agreement.)

The assessment chapter is good, and I wish more presidential biographies had something similar. Borneman briefly goes into how Polk's legacy has shifted over time, seeming to grow in stature in regards to his accomplishments. Also, he provided very brief summaries about what happened to many of Polk's contemporaries. I disagree with Borneman overall in his treatment of Polk. I think that he focused almost exclusively on what Polk got done. That is a part of his legacy, and it should be. Also, if Presidents were viewed solely by what they wanted to accomplish vs what they actually did accomplish, Polk would rate the highest of anyone who has held that office. Everything that he set out to do, he ended up doing. But that is an incomplete picture. How Polk accomplished his agenda and how he treated people are also parts of the equation. Borneman seems to think those things are secondary in importance. I don't. This is not a bad biography, but it could have been so much better.

Grade: C+

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book twenty-nine of my Presidential Challenge.

President Polk was an interesting guy. He promised to only serve one term and he was a man of his word. He increased the size of the country by a larger amount than any other President short of maybe Jefferson. He came into office with four clearly established goals:
1. Reestablish the Independent Treasury System.
2. Reduce tariffs.
3. Acquire some or all of the Oregon territory.
4. Acquire California and New Mexico from Mexico.

He accomplished all of these goals, dropped the mic and left the Presidency basically saying, "Was that so hard?"

In a way it makes a crazy sort of sense: If you spend all of your political capital and don't care about the political enemies you make, you'd be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Was his war with Mexico legal? Ethical? I would say no on both counts but if I start nitpicking how any given section of America was acquired I doubt I'd like what I found.

Polk died almost immediately after leaving office (103 days later to be precise) so it was probably a good thing he did only serve one term.

Lots of great information from Borneman in this book. If I had any complaints it would be that the middle section kind of seemed to forget it was about Polk and just covered the Mexican-American War.

[Frank Theising · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing my journey of reading at least one bio of every president. By any objective measure Polk has got to be one of the most successful and influential presidents in US history, yet he is largely forgotten or discounted. Borneman attempts to boost Polk’s reputation in this 2008 biography. He argues that Polk was a gifted politician with strategic vision, not just in his territorial ambitions but in his own political rise as well. Polk is often described as a dark horse, but the author argues that his rise was more than just luck; he brilliantly positioned himself to gain the 1844 Democratic nomination in the event his party deadlocked. By and large, I think the author makes a compelling case to support a stronger reputation for Polk’s leadership, strategic thinking, and political cunning.

While largely sympathetic, the author does cover several negative aspects of Polk’s character and presidency, the principal ones being 1) his being a Southern slave holder, 2) his willingness to spin and prosecute the Mexican-American War in whatever way needed to achieve his political aims, and 3) his extreme loyalty to the Democratic Party and how it influenced many of his Presidential decisions (including his conflicts with many of his Whig generals who were potential political rivals).

On occasion, the book feels more like a general history book than a biography. This is somewhat unavoidable…its difficult to discuss Polk’s actions without context and there was a lot going on during this period (both during and leading up to the Mexican-American War). Overall, a very solid bio of our nation’s 11th President.


What follows are my notes on the book:


(Note - War College/Grad School is eating my lunch lately. I finished this several weeks ago and just getting to typing up notes now so they’re a little more sparse than normal.)

Born in Mecklenburg, NC. His family headed west to the frontier town of Nashville. Andrew Jackson, 30 years his senior, was a close friend of the Polk clan. James was physically weak child. Had to have surgery at 17 to remove stones from his bladder (a dicey procedure with that era’s medicine).

As his father’s fortunes rose, James was sent to the University of North Carolina for 2 & 1/2 years. Full of ambition on his return to Tennessee, he managed to get himself elected as the clerk for the state Senate. He married Sarah Childress, a daughter of another wealthy frontier family. Tennessee politicians put forth Andrew Jackson as a candidate for Senate. In that campaign, Polk switched his allegiance from the governor to Jackson, forever establishing himself as Jackson’s boy.

The large pool of regional candidates (Crawford, Adams, Jackson, Clay, Clinton, etc.) to succeed Monroe, insured that nobody received an Electoral College majority, throwing the race into the House of Representatives. Jackson labeled Clay’s shift of western state votes to Adams (where Clay was named Sec of State) as a “corrupt bargain,” dooming Adams’ agenda from the start. Polk elected to Congress that same year at age 29.

For over a decade in Congress, Polk carried the water for Andrew Jackson. As House Ways and Means chair and later Speaker of the House, Polk helped push thru Jackson’s agenda. Polk became the crucial third member of the Jackson triumvirate (along with Van Buren). Jackson left office right as many of his policies against banks came home to roost in an economic panic. He left his problems to president-elect Van Buren. Polk resigned to run for governor of TN (a huge gamble given his power in Washington).

He was elected governor by a very narrow margin over the incumbent after a Herculean campaign across the state. He was disappointed with the limited powers and authority of the governor. Nevertheless he rallied the Democratic legislature, passed many of his proposals and engineered the removal of two Whig senators that he replaced with Democrat appointees. He was positioning himself to be Van Buren‘s vice presidential candidate in 1840. He aggressively pursued the vice presidential nomination well beyond the point of reason. It wouldn’t matter, W. H. Harrison would crush Van Buren in the Electoral College.

Polk’s tenacious and unreasonable pursuit of the vice presidency so early gave him a significant amount of name recognition without the stigma of being on the losing ticket (Much like John F. Kennedy later). Tippecanoe and Tyler too and the Whigs smooth marketing of the “man of the people” came to TN where they used the same ploy to unseat Polk from the governor’s office. During his time out of government he and his agents marketed him as a potential vice presidential candidate for Van Buren who was eager to reclaim the presidency. Polk took a huge gamble in running for TN governorship right before the presidential election. A loss would undermine his opportunity to become vice president. Polk continued to talk about the issues, while his opponent Jimmy Jones stuck to the same script he used last time, entertaining the people. Polk would lose in his bid to reclaim the governorship. A comeback of any sort seemed all but impossible.

Public letters from Van Buren and Clay stating their opposition to the annexation of Texas, led Old Hickory to summon Polk back to his residence. Jackson believed this declaration doomed both aspirants for the presidency and Jackson began maneuvering to push Polk just nine months after his defeat for the governorship. Of all of the Democratic candidates for the presidency, only Calhoun and Polk professed support for Texas annexation. Calhoun was a no-go because of his pro-slavery rhetoric that made him unpopular nationally.

At the Dem Convention, Polk became everyone’s second choice and an excellent compromise candidate when the convention deadlocked. The author argues that luck was certainly a factor, but also that Polk had done everything possible to position himself for this very circumstance. Polk’s declaration that he would only serve one term, undermined Clay’s strategy to paint Polk as “eight more years of Jackson”. The Texas issue would decide the election in the South. To secure Northern votes, Polk published his intention to support protectionist tariffs for northern industry. However, President Tyler could still play spoiler with an independent campaign. Working through Jackson they engineered Tyler’s withdraw from the race and assurances that Tyler supporters would be welcome back into the Democratic Party and placed on an equal footing for patronage positions.

Meanwhile, as Clay began to moderate his positions in hopes of securing southern votes, he appeared more as a waffler. He never really recognized the inevitable acquisition of additional territory as the key point of the elcection.

Polk won a fairly narrow victory with New York being the key state they gave him the Electoral College win. Along with his new Secretary of State (Buchanan), Polk proposed the 49th parallel as a fair boundary between Great Britain and United States in the Pacific Northwest. When British ambassador Packenham rejected it, Polk withdrew the offer. This left the ball in embarrassed British hands while Polk did all he could to encourage American settlers to move west and populate the territory during the stalemate. While “fifty-four forty or fight” was an extremely popular slogan, Polk was looking to negotiate. Buchanan urged caution fearing a war on two fronts (Mexico and Canada). Polk was undeterred and moved forward with plans to withdraw from the joint occupation treaty and give the one year notice to Great Britain.

While the South wanted Texas and the North wanted Oregon, Polk also had designs on obtaining California. John Fremont led an Army expedition into California.

Polk appointed Slidell as secret minister plenipotentiary to Mexico. Without diplomatic relations, Pena y Pena refused to meet with Slidell (knowing of his intentions to basically buy half of Mexico).

Polk strongly entertained a proposal by Alejandro Atocha to secure Santa Anna’s return to Mexico from exile in Cuba under the assumption that he would be more amenable to selling Mexican land in order to get funds for his future government.

With claims of “American blood shed on American soil,” Congress rapidly and overwhelmingly voted for war with Mexico. Polk insisted the Oregon and Mexican issues were completely separate (Buchanan feared Mexico and Britain taking advantage of American distractions on the other front). The author argues that Polk was the pivot point that shifted war-making power from Congress to the Executive Branch.

While fifty-four forty or fight is commonly remembered as a campaign slogan in the 1844 election, it didn’t come into widespread usage until 1846. After withdrawing the US offer, Packenham requested arbitration which the US denied. When Congress withdrew from the one-year joint occupation they put in conciliatory language on the desire for a peaceful resolution. Four days later the British sent a compromise proposal for the 49th parallel. Polk looking to avoid fallout for giving away half of the Oregon territory, sent the treaty to Congress for advice stating that if they concurred he would go along with their decision. Congress accepted and the US pulled off securing half of the Oregon territory without a fight. All the big dissenters, including Buchanan, were all Democrats trying to position themselves for the 1848 election.

In 1846 Polk achieved passage of his primary domestic agenda items including a new tariff and the establishment of an independent treasury (a de facto national bank)….something that his mentor Jackson would’ve despised and that the Whigs tried to pass several times over the last two decades.

During the Mexican War, Polk remembered Atocha’s proposal and stated that if Santa Anna tried to return he would be permitted passage into Mexico. Stephen Kearney carried out the conquest of the Southwest (New Mexico). He recruited many outcasts (including Mormons) and captured Santa Fe without firing a shot.

General Gideon Pillow, who clashed with other generals during the war, carried great influence with Polk. Polk relieved Winfield Scott as a result of their “unfortunate collisions.“ As Mexico stalled and made unreasonable demands, Polk recalled his key negotiator Nicholas Trist. If Mexico wanted peace, they would have to sue for it.

After occupation of a Mexico City, Santa Anna resigned the presidency, leaving it to Pena y Pena. Trist ignored his recall and continued to negotiate a peace settlement. Polk was astonished and furious with Trist. The Mexican Government had changed hands again and already resumed negotiations with Trist.

The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was delivered to the Senate against objections of Sec of State Buchanan. When it was ratified...Polk had doubled the size of the United States. He was steadfast in his decision not to run for another term. As a very hands-on President, he was tired at the end of his term. He was the first to refuse to run for a second term.

Polk advocated for territorial governments for NM and OR and argued that a decision to prohibit slavery in Oregon was right because it was north of the Missouri Compromise line.

He was clearly upset with the unqualified Taylor winning the presidency. Fortunately for the Democrats he had no coattails and the Democrats kept both chambers of Congress. During his last 4 months he continued to work on securing a territorial government for CA. Little did he know gold-rush driven immigration would make California a state within two years. Unfortunately the slavery debate would prevent the establishment of territorial governments during his term. He did sign into the law the creation of the Department of the Interior, even though he had serious reservations that it would take power away from the states.

He ended his time in office with a triumphal tour through the South, passing through several areas with deadly cholera outbreaks. He most likely died of cholera in Nashville at age 53.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am now on presidential biography #11. James K. Polk followed John Tyler and preceded Zachary Taylor, and if all three of them are just names you barely remember from U.S. history, you're not alone.

Borneman begins and ends this biography of the 11th president by arguing that Polk was in fact one of the greatest U.S. presidents. He supports this with polls of historians, beginning with Arthur Schlesinger, who consistently rank Polk among the top ten.

This might be surprising considering who he typically shares the list with: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, etc. Those are A-list presidents, while Polk is just another early 19th century dude who warmed the Oval Office chair before Lincoln.

But Borneman makes a convincing case that, by the criteria by which a president's effectiveness is measured, Polk was actually pretty darn effective.

That didn't make him particularly interesting, though. Walter Borneman, a historian, tries with Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America, and I came away from this book more educated and largely agreeing with the arguments Borneman makes about Polk's significance, but still... Polk was no Washington or Lincoln, or even a Johnson.

Old Hickory's Boy

Born in a log cabin (a claim several other presidents made, though some were stretching the truth a bit), James Polk was a physically unimpressive man (5'8") who suffered from health problems and physical frailty his entire life. Borneman describes a trip he made as a teenager to Philadelphia to be seen by a physician for his urinary stones. The bumpy ride proved so agonizing he couldn't continue, and instead, was subjected to emergency surgery in Kentucky. "Emergency surgery" in Kentucky in 1812 was as brutal as it sounds, and while it apparently removed Polk's urinary stones, Borneman and other historians speculate that the surgeon cut out more than some stones, explaining why Polk and his wife Sarah never had children.

He recovered, and went on to become a lawyer and a politician, like many future presidents. He was a protege of Andrew Jackson, and became such a stalwart Jackson supporter that he was known as "Old Hickory's boy."

Polk served as Congressman and then Governor of Tennessee. And in 1844, as Borneman describes it, Polk's political career was almost dead in the water, as he'd been defeated twice for reelection as Governor. He went to the 1844 Democratic convention hoping to get the VP slot, not campaigning for the presidential nomination.

"Who is James K. Polk?"

At this point, Borneman goes into excruciating detail about the Democratic party's 1844 movers and how the balloting was done. Ex-President Martin Van Buren was the front runner, and Borneman describes Polk doing some serious asskissing and rhetorical gymnastics to try to convince Van Buren that he should be his running mate, despite having just been whupped twice in his home state. However, Van Buren then pissed off his old mentor Andrew Jackson by opposing the annexation of Texas, and Jackson ended up throwing his support behind Polk instead. After a lot of other political shenanigans and maneuvering (if you are the sort of wonky political nerd who likes following the ins and outs of party conventions and how the sausage is made, here's a book that gives you a good look at the Democrats in 1844), Polk ended up with the nomination. His running mate was George M. Dallas (who?).

The Whigs mocked him with "Who is James K. Polk?", but Henry Clay (making his third or fourth run at the presidency) narrowly lost to Polk. Polk was helped by Andrew Jackson, who used his influence to persuade the sitting president without a party, John Tyler, to withdraw from the campaign. Slavery was a major issue, but both Polk and Clay were slave-owning Southerners, so a fabricated story about Polk branding his slaves (what came to be known as the "Roorback Forgery") is believed to have backfired, since it just reminded abolitionists that Clay owned slaves too. Borneman analyzes the election rather thoroughly and concludes that New York, and some votes siphoned off there by the abolitionist Liberty Party, was what cost Clay the election.

Manifest Destiny

Polk promised during his campaign that he would serve only one term and not run for reelection. Today, it's assumed that anyone elected president is going to try for two terms, and thus is pretty much running for reelection the moment he hits the White House. But in 1844 there was still debate over whether presidents even should be reelected. Polk's pledge was serious. He meant it, and Borneman points out that in many ways, this was what made him such an effective president. He was willing to burn all his political capital during his single term and not worry about his reelection.

His first major decision was over Texas. Outgoing President John Tyler had stolen some of Polk's thunder by annexing Texas just before he left office. (Tyler really wanted credit for Texas.) Technically, Polk could have recalled the offer of annexation (which Texas had already approved) to reopen negotiations for more favorable agreements with Mexico and Britain. But this risked Texas not becoming a state at all. Britain had brokered a deal whereby Texas independence would be recognized by Mexico in exchange for a promise to never annex itself to another country, though Texas President Sam Houston refused. So Polk, who was strongly in favor of Texas statehood, allowed the annexation to go through.

Polk had his eye on more than Texas. It was during Polk's presidency that the U.S. adopted "manifest destiny," an expansion of the Monroe Doctrine. He would end up adding not just Texas, but also New Mexico, California, and Oregon.

The Mexican-American War was an early Iraq War

Borneman spends a significant chunk of the book talking about the Mexican-American War. Everyone knew that annexing Texas was almost inevitably going to lead to war with Mexico; Mexico had said as much. Polk did send an ambassador to Mexico City to try to settle claims over Texas, and also buy California and New Mexico outright, but anti-American sentiment was strong and the Mexican president refused to see the U.S. ambassador. Then there was coup, and an even more anti-American general took over, so the ambassador sent word back that they'd have to wait for the Mexican government to change again.

I found a surprising number of parallels with the Iraq War.

During this time, General Zachary Taylor was camping his army across the river from Matamouros. A Mexican general told them to move. They didn't. The Mexicans attacked and inflicted a few casualties. This gave Polk a casus belli, and in a line that would be thrown back at him later by one Abraham Lincoln, declared that Mexico had "shed American blood on American soil."

Borneman argues that this was the point where Polk transformed the Presidency and dramatically increased executive power. Under the Constitution, only Congress can declare war. During "Madison's War" in 1812, James Madison "wrung his hands" about asking Congress to go to war with Britain; it wasn't clear the president had any authority even to ask for a war. But Polk, as Borneman describes it, did not so much ask Congress for permission to go to war, but decided to go to war and then asked Congress to approve it. With a great deal of political pressure, the House and Senate voted in favor of a declaration of war with Mexico, while many politicians complained that they were essentially forced to so as not to look unpatriotic. And thus the precedent was set.

There were many interesting figures involved in the Mexican campaign, such as John C. Fremont and Kit Carson. Fremont would be significant politically; he was the son-in-law of a powerful Missouri Senator and one-time Polk ally, Thomas Hart Benton. Thanks to a series of military misadventures, questions about rank and protocol, and Fremont just being kind of an egotistical jerk, he ended up being court-martialed, and while Polk agreed with the military tribunal's recommendation of leniency, he did not do what Benton wanted and exonerate Fremont completely. This caused a permanent rift which was quite damaging for Polk politically.

Other interesting episodes from this time period included Thomas Hart Benton's son-in-law storming into Polk's office (according to some rumors, drunk) and demanding a commission, then cursing the president out when he was refused. (These were the days before the Secret Service, and Polk often complained about the constant stream of office-seekers who would just walk into the White House and beg or demand jobs).

Polk also brought exiled general Santa Anna back from Cuba, promising to put him in control of Mexico so he could sell California to the Yankees. Santa Anna said "Sure, gringos!", took control of Mexico, and promptly led a bloody military campaign to defend it against the Yankees.

As the war ground on, Congress would become increasingly dissatisfied with its progress and cost. Illinois Congressman Abraham Lincoln began introducing "Spot Resolutions" demanding that President Polk "Show the exact spot on a map where American blood was shed on American soil." None of them were passed, but it was an effective bit of political theater.

Polk sent another ambassador, Nicholas Trist, to negotiate a peace treaty. When Trist failed to make any progress, Polk tried to recall him. Trist not only refused to be recalled, but sent Polk a 65-page letter explaining why. Polk was, understandably, pissed, and considered sending someone to remove him, but given the distance, let Trist stay, where he eventually negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which essentially settled the modern border with Mexico.

"Fifty-four Forty or Fight!"

Another one of Polk's objectives when he took office was to settle what was at the time joint occupation of the Oregon Territory by the U.S. and Britain. He wanted Oregon, and was willing to risk war with Britain to get it.

The slogan "Fifty-four Forty or Fight!" is often the only thing most people remember about Polk's presidency. Contrary to popular belief, it was not a campaign slogan: it wasn't circulated until 1846, when hawks were demanding that Britain give up the entire West coast up to the 54th parallel, the southern border of what was then Russian territory and is now Alaska.

Polk proved to be a tough negotiator, and Britain needed trade with the United States much more than it wanted a war. The U.S. did not get "Fifty-four Forty," but they did get the 49th parallel. And with that, during his presidency Polk more or less established the boundaries of the lower 48.

The One-Term President

True to his word, Polk did not run for reelection. He threw his support in 1848 behind the Democratic nominee, Lewis Cass, while the Whigs ran Zachary Taylor, whom Polk had been very unimpressed with during the Mexican-American War. The feeling was reciprocated, but when Taylor won, Polk received him in Washington and they had a very pleasant dinner party with all the winners and losers of the recent election.

Polk was happy to leave the White House. His health had deteriorated and he was exhausted. He and Sarah took a little celebratory tour of the South, where he caught cholera and died in June 1949. Polk remains the shortest-lived of all ex-presidents.

Sarah, on the other hand, would be the longest-lived ex-First Lady. She would live as a widow for another 42 years.

Why was Polk a great president? According to Borneman and other historians:


He accomplished all the goals he had when he took office. (Resolve the joint occupation of Oregon, acquire California, reduce the tariff, and establish an independent treasury.)
He was the most decisive chief executive until Lincoln. He said what he meant to do, and he did it, without any waffling or second-guessing.
He greatly expanded the power of the executive office, especially its war powers.


Note that all of these accomplishments speak to his effectiveness, and not necessarily their morality. Depending on how you view Polk's legacy, he was very effective at expanding the Pax Americana or, well, he was very effective at expanding the Pax Americana.

Borneman describes Polk as a firm, decisive leader who probably did possess all the qualities we would want today in a chief executive except, perhaps, being on the right side of history. Polk was a slave owner, and he was as resolute on the slavery issue as he was on everything else. Most early American presidents were slave owners, and most of them wrestled with this to varying degrees. Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, even Martin Van Buren (who wasn't a slave owner but supported the South)... they all clearly struggled with being complicit in what they knew to be an immoral institution.

Not James Polk. If he ever had any moral qualms about slavery, he never expressed them. He regarded it as a purely "political" matter, to be decided by individual states as a matter of law. In his will, he encouraged his wife to free their slaves, but only upon her death.

Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America is a thorough biography written in sufficient detail to at times be a bit tedious, but short enough not to overburden someone who isn't that interested in obscure presidents from the 1840s and is grinding through presidential biographies in chronological order. I appreciated Borneman's attention to detail, and the fact that he provided some insights and analyses of his own, though at times I thought he fell victim to the curse of many a biographer, becoming a little too enamored of his subject and thus tending to take his side in various political disputes.

[Kierstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who likes James K. Polk? Apparently smart people do. Consistently scoring in the top ten of Schlesinger's Best Presidents List, our eleventh president, obscure to most people today and (purported) in his own time, is a monolith of achievement and decisiveness. To me, Polk was an unexpected gasp of good air between Jackson and Lincoln.

His election was said by the London Times to be "the triumph of every thing that is worst over every thing that is best in the United States." I don't agree, but essentially, Polk was elected for the sole reason that he was the only candidate to support the immediate annexation of Texas. Called the "Dark Horse" in the 1844 election, Polk wasn't exactly unknown - he had served Tennessee as a Congressman, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and then Governor, but he was gunning for the VP spot at the start of the Democratic Party Convention.

When Martin Van Buren (resurrected from retirement as our 8th President) could not morally support annexation on the grounds of Texas entering as a slave state, his nomination was witheld and the presumed VP (Polk) was elevated. The Whig candidate, the omnipresent Henry Clay, became inexplicably wishywashy on the Texas issue (likely to differentiate himself from the Democrats' platform) and could not win back voters who were set on concurring the whole North American continent.

Though it was the issue of the day, Texas was actually acquired by President Tyler in a last minute compromise with his anathematic congress. So, Polk inaugurated four other promises: Resolve the Oregon border, acquire California, reduce the tariff (an issue dividing the agrarian south and the commercial north almost as violently as slavery), and establish an independent treasury. Short story: He did it all in four years and retired as a committed one-termer.

Tariff and Treasury issues aside (because the mid-nineteenth century was an economic nightmare no better managed than as if by the E-Trade babies), Polk gave our nation its continental borders. Oregon had been a massive tract of jointly occupied territory shared with England that past leaders avoided resolving due to the inevitable conflict over the relatively small amount of territory surrounding Puget Sound. Diplomatic efforts (including a mad rush over the Oregon Trail to occupy land with Americans) won the day, and led scouting parties south into California when the "conflict" was settled quicker than expected.

General Zachary Taylor (about whom you will hear from me next!) had been sent by President Polk to militarily reaffirm Texas' boundary at the Rio Grande, which Mexico was pretending it forgot. Communications confusion, arrogance, and cholera led General Taylor to plow through Texas westward until he met with the renegade units mistakenly occupying California (several fun personalities emerge at this point each thinking themselves kings of the Californios, with no regard for actual authorization for their actions in the name of the United States). Realizing the diplomatic nightmare about to occur, Gen. Taylor flees California, but by then Santa Ana of Mexico is thrilled at the opportunity to avenge yet another American act of arrogance. And thus is the Mexican American War.

In short, America wins, but not so much that we get Mexico, for which some in Congress were holding out. Perhaps they knew about Cancun? Anyway, Polk gets credit for the new territories of New Mexico and "upper" California, who until then, led a country that essentially ended at the Mississippi River. Provisional governments were established and Polk left the slavery debate, in large part, for the next administration.

Unfortunately, Polk enjoyed the shortest retirement of any former President - just 103 days. He died of cholera on his extended farewell voyage across the south at just 53 years old (and on the special day of June 15th). He likely would have played a visible and interesting part in the Confederate cause, which was supported by his wife Sarah who lived forty-two more years without him.

Polk as a man wasn't super interesting, but his presidency was remarkable. He accomplished everything he said he would (without especial cooperation of Congress or even his Cabinet), managed a war with Mexico and diplomatic negotiations with England, and executed manifest destiny. All in four years. Polk was a surprise oasis in the talent desert that was America sliding uncontrollably towards civil war. It was a rough time people. I'm learning it was only because of presidents like Polk that our country survived itself. Yay Polk! I'm a fan.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book about a decade or so ago, and remember thinking it was all right, but I couldn’t really remember anything specific about it. So I just read the book again, and I still kind of feel the same way.

Borneman’s book is about twice the length of a typical entry in the mass-market, easy-reading American Presidents series of biographies, but it seems to be written on about the same level. “Tariffs were taxes on goods and raw materials imported into the United States,” he explains earnestly. And he introduces the Bank War by noting that "in today's era of automated teller machines and ubiquitous branch banks, it seems strange that one of the major domestic policy debates of the nineteenth century was over the nation's banking system."

It comes across as a little dumbed down and, if you have enough of a base of knowledge to understand what a tariff is, just a little condescending.

Borneman knows enough about his subject to engage in some myth-busting, correcting minor misconceptions like how the battle cry of “Fifty-four Forty or Fight!” was not raised during Polk’s presidential campaign, but some time afterwards. So it’s curious that he sort of questions the likely apocryphal story about how Polk slapped his thigh and announced to his Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft on the eve of his inauguration what the “four great measures” of his administration would be - but then he ends up continually referring back to this story as though it’s gospel.

Because lowering tariffs and creating an independent treasury are boring to a general audience, those two “great measures” are dispatched quickly in this book. Borneman spends the rest of his time on the other two great measures, settling the Oregon dispute with Britain, and acquiring California from Mexico.

The strength and weakness of this book is that the stories of Oregon and California (and Texas and the Mexican-American War) are told not just from the perspective of Polk and the White House, but from the perspectives of others who are on the respective scenes. You get a good sense of what was happening far from Washington, but it comes at the expense of learning about Polk, his decision-making, his motives and his management style. The book settles into something of a blow-by-blow account of what happened, and when, and where, with little analysis. And it touches only lightly on anti-war sentiment during the Mexican-American War, preferring instead to keep the story more tightly focused on the battlefield and on those carrying out the war effort.

Finally, the book ends with a disappointingly superficial and incomplete assessment of Polk’s presidency. Borneman’s most profound conclusion is the unoriginal observation that Polk was effective because he achieved his every goal. He offers no analysis of the merits of Polk’s methods in expanding the country and accomplishing his goals, nor any discussion about how Polk’s actions, and his own status as a supporter of slavery, ultimately helped send us further down the road toward civil war. Yes, Polk accomplished his short-term goals, but at a long-term cost that he failed to appreciate.

So I come away from my second reading of this book with the same feeling I had after the first. It’s a decent and well-written introduction to Polk for those who need obscure terms like “tariffs” defined for them in the text, and appreciate references to things like automated teller machines. But for a deeper understanding of Polk and the impact of his policies, you’d do better to look elsewhere.

[Patrick Sprunger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Walter Borneman has two main theses regarding president Polk.

1. Polk does not belong to the peripheral tier of obscure presidents memorized by schoolchildren but not understood by students. Borneman would say - and I would agree - that Polk belongs much higher in the presidential pantheon, perhaps on a stage reserved for the "almost great." After all, Polk can count four major achievements: An independent treasury, the Oregon Territory, California, and Texas/the US Southwest.

Polk basically drew the continental boundaries of the United States we know today. We take for granted that the Canadian and Mexican boundaries congealed at some point during the 19th century, but do not seem concerned with who actually did it, if it happened quickly and deliberately, or if it was a slow, aggregated process. In other words, modern Americans treat the realization of manifest destiny as something that just magically happened, like cosmic events preordained by the God of our republican scriptures. Clearly, such is not the case and the answer is no less simple despite its banality. In brief, Polk did it.

This technically makes Polk essential to the American story. But it does not make him "great." "Nearly great" is the best I am willing to do. I submit my reason in the form of a rejection of Borneman's second thesis.

2. The author deliberately styles Polk as president Jackson's protégé, when Jackson was actually Polk's patron. Jackson - despite his many faults (and they are numerous, in my opinion) - is a direct descendant of the revolutionary generation. His defense of the union during the 1832 nullification crisis reveals that Jackson believed in the union every bit as much as Washington or Lincoln. Though he was every bit the politician - and had the imperialist stripe to boot - Jackson walked the walk of the spirits of '76 and '87. In other words, he was an American first and a Democrat second. Politics came to him naturally, as a member of the "natural aristocracy" and he left them like a cincinnati, feeling he had held the gates. (Okay, so I simplify Jackson a bit, for the sake of contrast...)

Polk, on the other hand, was the consummate American apparatchik. His interpretation of manifest destiny gave the philosophy its teeth. But the Virginia philosophers who dreamed it imagined a far more organic, natural movement - American ether filling the vacuum of the untamed continent. Polk lusted after empire. Empire that would advance his personal glory. He made sure to remove those who might claim the public's attention and subordinated his own wing of the party. It makes one wonder if Polk put "American" or "Democrat" first in his personal, civic identity.

Imperial expansion in Oregon, California, and Mexico was about little more than maintaining the political status quo - if not actually strengthening the Southern Democratic bloc (to defend slavery). Oregon gave zero power to the Southern Democrats - hence making it essential that Texas and Californian statehood and southwestern territory occur concurrently to prevent any tipping of the scales.* Borneman downplays the issue of slavery about as much as one can do without actually omitting the word or using a euphemism. Perhaps slavery was not a big Polk motive, but it was a big Democratic one and Polk was the Democratic party's man. To sidestep this issue is to manipulate the impression a biography presents.

But back to how Polk and Jackson differed. When Jackson put down Calhoun's rebellion, one senses the president felt satisfaction that he could step aside - the hard work having been done - and let the next generation clear the problem to prevent a repeat. This is exactly what the framers believed they were doing in delaying the resolution of slavery. Madison, Hamilton - even Jefferson, though not a framer - felt that if they could get the country on an even keel, their sons would have the room they needed to maneuver slavery out of the national picture. And like Jefferson's pollyannaism, Jackson's faith in the next generation was betrayed. Polk began the long march of apparatchik presidents committed to preserving the status quo and deferring the issue of slavery for a later date - all the while seemingly oblivious to the pressure building up in each successive re-bottling effort.

Borneman fell victim to the siren's song of so many biographers. He developed an academic crush on his subject - an infatuation so strong he was blind to his subject's flaws. The only reason this is not an unpardonable sin is because of its prolificacy. It does, however, compromise all the hard work and waste academic man hours. There is a dearth of understanding of the antebellum 19th century at the lay level. A pop historical work on the subject - be it broad or narrow, as a biography of a post Jacksonian president - is sorely needed. Furthermore, the resources are limited. Publishers will not publish an infinite number of Polk biographies in the hopes that one writer will get it right. Bad scholarship affects more than one author's readers.


*Oregon automatically built California, Texas, and Mexico into Polk's goals. He would not have put his support behind Oregon without the compensation of the others. Though impossible to prove, I believe that if the circumstances were reversed, and Texas or California the issue, that Polk would have been willing to compromise or defer on the issue of Oregon on the basis that it threw no weight into the Democratic war machine.

[Grumpus · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part of this book for me was the fact that I learned about many characters for whom many US places are named, such as Slidell, Benton,and many for whom counties are named in Tennessee where I once lived.

It was filled with interesting facts throughout that I will always remember because I know they'll end up on game show as a question I'll be asked for big bucks.

Things like Polk was the president who had the shortest life after the presidency (103 days), his wife was the longest widowed first lady (42 years, if I remember correctly, this was an audiobook so its not so easy to go back and check), and the transition day between his presidency and Taylor's was one that historians question as to who really was president. March 4 was a Sunday when Taylor was to be sworn in but he wanted to wait until Monday for the ceremony. So Polk's last day was technically over on Sunday, March 4 at noon but Taylor was not sworn in until the next day. Who was President?

Lots of names, dates, and places for the history buffs who love that sort of thing but would probably overwhelm someone who was not.

[Arthur Augustyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps painfully accurate, but a dreary and boring book.

I read President biographies to get a sense of their accomplishments and what type of person they were, but this book lacks both. The specifics of Polk's accomplishments could just as well be ascertained from a Wikipedia article and the only anecdotes you get are about the various other figures present at the time (Sam Houston, Andrew Jackson, James Buchanan, Winifield Scott, Zachary Taylor, etc.). While that might be great for true lovers of history from that time, I continuously felt like I was missing out on what Polk was up to during these times.

I didn't get a real sense of why Polk pursued any of his agenda or what made him tick. This is a good book for historical facts, but it's boring to read and I can't help but think I'll forget I read it at all in a few weeks.

[Josh Liller · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my goals this year was to each month read a biography of president whom I'd never read a biography of before. That plan mostly got derailed, but I did still pick up a few, including this one. It helped that my local public library had it.

This is a biography of James K. Polk's entire life, although almost 2/3 of the book is spent on his four year presidency. I did get some sense of Polk as a person, but his time in Congress seemed mostly lost in the broader narrative of events of the time period. The presidential years are more focused, in part due to Polk keeping a diary while in the White House, although the narrative still goes into more details about things that aren't important. Nevertheless, the reader does get a decent sense of who Polk was as a person and a politician.

Borneman effectively debunks most of the idea that Polk was a "dark horse" candidate. While not one of the main presidential candidates going into the 1844 convention, Polk was already in serious consideration for the vice presidency (and had been in 1840) He had supporters at the convention planning in advance to put him forward as a compromise candidate after the first few rounds of voting, correctly expecting neither Van Buren nor Cass to be able to get the nomination.

Besides Polk, the book provides interesting looks at John C. Fremont, Gideon Pillow, and especially James Buchanan (Polk's Secretary of State, and later an infamous President). I also got a better understanding of the Oregon Territory dispute and some misconceptions around it, especially regarding "54-40 or Fight."

While I think the book gives Polk reasonably fair treatment, I think Borneman comes off as dismissive of the Whig Party.

There are maps where needed, some illustrations in the middle, endnotes, and an index.

I found the book to be a steady read with good chapter lengths.

Moderate recommendation overall.

[John Frazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's difficult to understand why James Polk is as enigmatic as he is today, why most of us know so little about the United States' eleventh president. Given the years of the sole term he served, 1844-1848, and the contemporary issues, he warrants much more review and discussion.

A fellow Tennessean and protege of Andrew Jackson, Polk rode Old Hickory's coattails to considerable success as a congressman and governor before a confluence of unlikely events thrust him into a national spotlight he hadn't planned to seek for another term or two. (He was the youngest president elected at the time.) The fact that he stated from the outset his intention to serve only one term was a double-edged sword: He could pursue his agenda with impunity but, at the same time, his political opponents could formulate and their responses with equal alacrity, knowing they wouldn't have to deal with "Li'l Hickory" for longer than four years.

There seems to be little debate that Polk did accomplish his agenda, which basically consisted of lowering tariffs, establishing a national bank, and pursuing what had been recently dubbed "manifest destiny," the westward expansion of the United States. That this involved a basically illegal declaration of war against Mexico--which then held much of what we now know as Texas, New Mexico and Southern California--and the threat of the same against England (which jointly held much of the territory now know as Washington and Oregon) would certainly come under even greater scrutiny today, especially from those who see parallels to America's military aggressions well outside our current borders.

Suffice it to say that while author Walter Borneman acknowledges the conflicts both within Polk's own government and with others, I couldn't help but conclude that both of them viewed this virtually boundless expansion as some sort of entitlement: The land was there, it bordered ours, the United States was expanding to the south and west, ergo it should belong to us. (To Borneman's defense, Polk only began keeping a memoir late in life, so his personal feelings may have differed from his political stance; there's little written and recorded evidence to distinguish the two.)

Of course, all of this expansion not only cost the loss of life of soldiers, but it created a massive dislocation of most of the people who'd previously called these territories home. There is little discussion given to the Mexican dislocation, and virtually none given to the indigenous peoples who'd settled in these places long before there was an America. Forget the legal ramifications, the moral issues aren't addressed here at all. And that the United States paid Mexico somewhere in the neighborhood of $15 million in compensation does little to mitigate the offense.

This is pretty much how both author and subject treated the other key issue of the times: slavery. Polk was a slave-owner (as most presidents to that time had been), and he had no compunction about that. According to Borneman, Polk didn't think it was a "political" issue, and he addressed its relevance only as it affected his ability to gain the support of northern and southern states during his virtually unimpeded quest to extend his country's boundaries. While the north would only give its support if the new territories were "free," the south wanted to continue the exploitation of cheap labor wherever the country went.

If the ownership of one human being by another does not qualify as a "political" issue, what does? In what context should slavery be considered?

This divisive issue wouldn't be officially settled for another five presidents (if then), but for a Polk biographer to accept the president's "hands off" posture with so little critical examination seems similarly dismissive, if not apologetic. The man had warts, and a more thorough biography would've examined them in much greater detail.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glad to have a biography written in the 21st century after having just finished two from the early twentieth, I found Polk to be both entertaining and complete. I loved that the last chapter presented something rarely offered in a biography: The next and final acts of the other notable people in the story, and not just of the spouse. I did find myself wishing there were more (and more detailed) maps included, as my knowledge of the geography of the American West was severely tested. While I enjoyed the thorough coverage of the war with Mexico on the indistinct southern border, for a time I almost forgot I was reading a book about James K. Polk. But you can't expect to skim over the details of the battles and politics of a war that he asked for. Borneman consistently praised Polk from cover to cover but I am fine with that, as the man in the middle of the forgotten presidents between Jackson and Lincoln deserves the praise: For better or worse and whatever the means, he added more territory to the nation than the Louisiana Purchase, and gave the United States nearly the geographical shape that we recognize today. Truly America's destiny manifested itself the most during his brief stay in the Executive Mansion.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straightforward, well-written and readable biography of Polk, mostly focused on his political career.

Borneman ably describes Polk’s contribution to expanding presidential power and enlarging the US as a continental nation, and covers his personal strengths and weaknesses, his unwillingness to serve more than one term, his assertion of executive power, and his petty prejudices and feuds. He also disputes the idea that Polk was an unknown dark horse before being elected.

The narrative is clear, witty and pretty quick but the prose is a bit dry or repetitive at times (and too conversational at others), and there is little on Polk’s personal life, character, or personality (he also seems to gloss over Polk’s attitudes toward slavery). There is also less than you might expect on Polk’s relationship with Buchanan. Some more on the historical context would have been helpful. At times it also seems like the sections on the Mexican War are more about the broader war than how Polk experienced it, and some characters are covered in detail even if Polk never directly dealt with them. The coverage of the Texas war seems excessively in-depth, for example..

A vivid, well-paced and well-researched biography.

[Campbell Stites · Rating 4 out of 5]

I desperately needed a book about a great president after 3 mediocre at best ones. This book was very well written and I really enjoyed all of its content. It had a similar vibe to RVR’s Jackson book and I loved that one so I loved this one too. Borneman is a great author and I think he did a great job covering Polk’s life, and allowed the reader to really get to know the man. I was able to fly through this book because it had a ton of interesting chapters and allowed me to really get invested in Polk and his time in the white house. Although some of the Mexican-American war talk bored me a little and could have been written a but better, I really enjoyed reading this book and it was very well written, readability 9/10. For depth, I’ll give this book a 8.5/10. It did a great job going through Polk’s political life but did neglect some of his childhood and post-presidency (which was very short), and I would have liked to read a bit more about that. For engagement, I’ll give this book a 9/10. Polk had a very interesting life and the author did a great job putting it on paper. He was able to fluently walk me through his time in the House of Representatives, his ambitions, and his character as president, and it all flowed very smoothly. Only thing that I didn’t enjoy was some of the war talk was hard for me to understand/care about, and there were a lot of names to remember. Overall this book was excellent and it was hard for me to put it down, I will say this book was absolutely amazing in the first half, and then just great in the second half, which is okay. I loved how the author included background of the other historical figures of the time, and also how he recognized Polk’s accomplishments and his shortcomings. Great book, and glad I chose it, Overall Rating: 8.25.
Now for Polk himself, I knew he was a good president but I was definitely surprised at all that he did. He was a great leader in the House of Representatives, Speaker of the House, Governor of Tennessee, and a one-term president who could have easily won another had he wished to. Everything he set out to do in his presidency, acquire Texas, Oregon, and California, establish an independent treasury, and reduce tariffs, he accomplished it all which I think is very admirable. I also admire him because he never gave up (hence my quote of the book) when he lost to a no-name in the gubernatorial election TWICE, and then preceded to win the Presidency of the United States. He did a lot and did it efficiently so for accomplishments, I give him a solid 8.75/10. For this “great” scale, I find it pretty easy to put him towards the higher numbers. He was a good husband, great public servant, was assertive but also cared for his allies, and overall just seemed like a good dude. He did however, own slaves, and was very partisan with his military leaders during the war which I believe wasn’t warranted. But he was a great and humble president, so for “great” scale, I give him 8.5/10. Overall I’ve said all I wanted to say about Polk, and I really do admire his leadership and character, and feel he was a great break from the terrible presidents of this era. Plus, he is from middle Tennessee!

[Rick Rapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Separating the content from the delivery, Borneman does a fine job of explaining the political life and legacy of James Polk. Polk was a strong-minded individual who had his sights set on the White House years before he took office. A devoted follower of Andrew Jackson (the second most heinous individual to hold the office of president), he was ultimately his own man when push came to shove (and when Jackson was safely dead.) He doubled the size of the United States with his acquisition of the Oregon territory and that gained from the vastly unpopular Mexican-American War (the residual effects still making huge ripples today.) He was a "party first" individual (much like the ones currently in elected offices), but he believed in the sanctity of the Union (unlike many today who are trying their best to destroy it.) He established a single Treasury and money for the US (hard to believe that was not already in place.) He had huge prejudices against those not of his party and even greater blind spots for unethical and self-serving toadies who played up to him. The youngest man elected to the Presidency (at that time), he also had the shortest "retirement," dying of cholera 108 days after he left office. He is largely forgotten in the wake of the next decade leading up to the Civil War, but he was a slave-holding hypocrite who "intended" to free his slaves, but somehow never got around to it. He set the stage for Presidential overreach which has lasted into current times. I would say that he was a complex individual, but most if not all of his actions are transparent. Mercifully, he served but one term.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough biography of "Old Hickory's Boy" and an often-overlooked chief executive.

In his 2008 biography of the 11th President, Walter Borneman succinctly captures Polk's legacy: "he did what he set out to do." This sums up his presidency perfectly. Committed to serving just one term, Polk could have chosen to play it safe, but instead, he took bold action to achieve his goals.

His accomplishments are significant: he finalized Texas's entry into the Union, reduced tariff rates, established an independent treasury, and expanded American territory through the Oregon Territory from Britain and the American Southwest from Mexico. By any standard, Polk's presidency deserves high praise for fulfilling his promises.

Borneman's biography is well-crafted, engaging, and straightforward. Neither controversial nor novel (or a novelty), he walks the reader through Polk's early political life at the foot of Andrew Jackson and his time in the House of Representatives and Tennessee Governor and ultimately to Polk's nomination and presidency. While "dry" in the sense that Polk was not nearly as colorful as Jackson, Borneman's Polk is principled, forthright, and far more (successfully) decisive than other Presidents after Jackson and before Lincoln.

Overall, a solid biography of a solid President.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty thorough biography with a perhaps being a bit skimpy on the beginning of Polk's life. You get a lot of US history with presidential biographies, which is what I really enjoy. Polk, for being an unknown to me, did a heck of a lot as a president. What I really admire about him is that he accomplished all his goals as a president, and he was true to his word. He really put his heart and soul into the job, even to the detriment of his health. He only stayed one term though the people loved him and would have reelected him. He seemed to be a man of principles, and he loved his family. I ended up really liking him by the end of the book. Thanks, Walter Borneman, for the great biography.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, during his presidency, James K. Polk trounced Mexico in the Mexican-American War, he formalized the annexation of Texas, and he acquired two additional and immense tracts of territory for the U.S. (California and New Mexico from Mexico, and Oregon, Washington, and Idaho from Britain). And, yes, Polk was one of the few leaders in history to hold so fast to his campaign promises, realizing his wildest expansionist dreams and enacting several important fiscal policy changes. But relatively little is written about Polk’s crucial contribution to the mullet, and sadly, this topic is once again overlooked here in Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency.

When describing Polk’s ascendance, Borneman rejects the label “Dark Horse”. Call him what you like, but seeking only the Vice Presidency, Polk was thrust unexpectedly and rather miraculously to the Presidency, vaulting over the favored Democratic candidate Martin “The Red Fox” Van Buren because of Van Buren’s opposition to the annexation of Texas. Despite Andrew Jackson’s patronage, Polk wasn’t particularly well liked even in his home state of Tennessee where he twice failed to win the governorship and then lost the state in the Election of 1844. Realizing he was a compromise candidate, Polk honorably sought out only a single Presidential term, but as I’ve said, he accomplished a great deal during those four years.

The history is engrossing, but Borneman’s narrative gets bogged down in blow-by-blow accounts of military engagements and political wrangling. And with pre-Civil War tensions simmering, Polk’s administration was plagued by political wrangling. Outgoing President Tyler quickly pushed through the annexation of Texas, stealing this victory from Polk and kindly leaving the resultant battle with Mexico and the question of slavery in Texas to Polk. Polk fought bitterly with his Whig opponents and with his own military commanders.

In Borneman’s account, to my great disappointment, Polk’s personal life is elusive. He was a sickly child, never quite recovering in adulthood, possibly sterile from a botched childhood operation. He was committed to his wife. But that’s about all Borneman reveals. Certainly, the public record is slim here. Just 103 days out of office, Polk died of cholera, and the only biography written in Polk’s time focused on his professional accomplishments. Given the circumstances then, Borneman has done a fairly good job of reviving the eleventh President. I suppose, if you’ve made it all the way to the end of this review, perhaps you really should read this book. Clearly you have the requisite attention span. Enjoy!

[Bill Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent history of our 11th and one of our most underrated Presidents of the United States, James K. Polk. He intentionally limited himself to one term when he ran in 1844 and set very specific goals that he wanted to achieve; 1) resolve the issue of Oregon with Great Britain; 2) acquire California; 3) reduce the tariff and; 4) establish an independent treasury. He achieved all four of his goals and successfully resolved the issue of Texas being admitted into the Union. Polk was the most assertive chief executive prior to Abraham Lincoln.

In four years, Polk nearly doubled the territorial size of the United States, moving the western border of the frontier from the banks of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.

Today’s self-obsessed, whiny, political class could learn much from James K. Polk.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for "The History Book Club" here on Goodreads.

Finished the book. A really good read. I learned much about the time period and about Polk himself.
I appreciated the author's approach of neither vilifying or glorifying Polk, but rather presenting two sides.
I have come to admire what Polk stood for and accomplished as a president and realize that he was a product of his times also.
Sarah, his wife also deserves our admiration for her part.

[David Eppenstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good biography of one of our lesser known presidents. This president started the presidency as we know it today and who presided over our period of Manifest Destiny and gave us another phony war, this one with Mexico.

[Judy Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a six week hiatus in reading the biographies of the presidents as it apparently took that long for the ILL to get the book from Nazareth Public Library to Orwigsburg. Fortunately, Borneman's first chapters included a recap of the presidents previous to Polk and the major issues they each faced. I may have to go back to buying the less expensive books!
Polk, like Van Buren, was a politician at heart, savvy about where, when, and upon what to make a stand. Expanding and securing the West was his legacy, even if it meant provoking a war with Mexico (which involved some shady dealing with the Western Hemisphere's Napoleon, Santa Ana). In the process he wrested the ability to declare war from the legislative power bank to the executive. He continues to be identified in the top 10 presidents of all time (usually weighing in at the number 10 spot) whenever historians (real ones, not like me) are polled.
Polk from a young age had his sights set on the Presidency, though in the political passive-aggressive style of vying for office of the time of never wanting to appear to be so, set things in motion to earn the honor as youngest man (to that date) to obtain the presidential nomination, even though he was only actually initially on the docket as a vice-presidential candidate. By the time he had served his four years in office (he declared from the outset that he would not seek a second term, but I think he might have had his fingers crossed "if the public would have demanded it"), he was more than ready to retire. The American Presidency seems to take its toll on its victims. They all leave office older than their years and very glad to do so, though President Bartlet seems to have been more eager to stay. Perhaps Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, and all those presidential hopefuls who miss the big brass ring could actually take some comfort in that.
Borneman's style was easy to read, though because Polk's life was more political than anything else, I found the reading a bit stale. I did appreciate Borneman's insights at the end of each chapter, making comparisons to other presidents and want-to-be presidents.
In looking ahead, the historian from whose list I make my choices, states that Zachary Taylor's life was less than exciting, so I have THAT to which to look forward!!

[David Clifton · Rating 5 out of 5]

James K. Polk was previously obscure to me. I knew the name, but not the man or his accomplishments. After reading "Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America," I understand why historians have ranked Polk favorably for his vision - his ability to promote and achieve the major items on his presidential agenda.

"Few presidents have come to office with as specific a set of goals as Polk enumerated at the beginning of his term: resolve the joint occupation of Oregon, acquire California, reduce the tariff, and establish an independent treasury. Polk accomplished three of these by 1846, and while it took a war to acquire California, with its resolution also came most of the American Southwest. Simply put, Polk did what he set out to do."

Under Polk's leadership, the U.S. acquired more than 800,000 square miles of western land, extending its boundary to the Pacific Ocean. After his four-year term, he did not seek another one.

"On December 5, 1848, the president submitted his fourth and final annual message to Congress. He went to great lengths to recount the present state of the union and the successes of his administration, but one sentence buried in a long paragraph filled with numbers of square miles and acres said it best. 'The Mississippi,' Polk reported, 'so lately the frontier of our country, is now only its
center.'"

[Matt Maples · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very insightful biography on a President that I have realized I was extremely ignorant about. Polk was a much much more effective President than I realized, but his leadership style effectively killed him. Polk was a micromanager and the workload from the Presidency seemed to have had devestating effects on his health. But while he was President he expanded the country, almost doubling the its size, and he accomplished all of his major goals. There is a very short list of Presidents who can claim that at the end of their term. I now have a much greater appreciation of Polk than I ever had before.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We generally look at the President's during this time as being dull, however, a lot was going on at this time in history. It has a three star rating from me because while this is a biography on Polk it seems like he was more background in his own biography. Andrew Jackson, James Calhoun, Henry Clay, Zachary Taylor, and his wife Sarah seem to play a bigger role. The USA was expanded with Texas, California, and Oregon. He said he would only run for one term and stuck to his promise, however, it does seem like his health was failing him.

How did this book find me? I've been working my way through on reading a biography on each POTUS in order of election.