Polk

Polk - The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America
Published by Random House, 359 pages long, written by Walter R. Borneman and copyrighted in 2008.
Pronounced "poke", like the salad.
James K. Polk was the was the eleventh President of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. Born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, but for most of his life a resident of Tennessee. Polk was considered to be one of President Andrew Jackson's protegees, a group the also included Sam Houston and President Martin Van Buren. Elected as a Democrat, he served as a Representative for seven terms and Speaker of the House for the last two of those. Later as Governor of Tennessee for a single term starting in 1839 and ending in 1841, a post which he lost re-election to and another rematch election just prior to becoming president.
When considering approval of budgets including what is commonly known as pork...

"To call the mouth of a creek or a shallow inlet on our coast a harbor can not confer the authority to expend the public money in its improvement."

and

"Should this bill become law, the principle which it establishes will lead inevitably to large and annually increasing appropriations and drains upon the Treasury, for it is not the be doubted that numerous other localities not embraced in its provisions...will demand, through their representatives in Congress, to be placed on an equal footing with them."

Polk's interpretation of the Constitution had no provisions for internal improvements within the states. It is clear that this president had enough intuition to predict what has become the favorite pastime of our elected national politicians, spending money to buy votes and shape constituencies.
Polk's presidency was formed around five commitments, all of which were delivered.

• To hold the office of president for only one term of four years.
• To secure the Oregon Territory as belonging to the United States, increasing the area of the country by 285,000 square miles.
• To secure expansion of United States westward into California, which was accomplished through the Mexican American War, adding some 525,000 square miles.
• To annex the independent Republic of Texas into the United States as a state.
• To restore the Independent Treasury System, under which government funds were held in the Treasury rather than in banks or other financial institutions.

James K. Polk is considered to have been the last "strong" pre-American Civil War president. Scholars rank Polk anywhere from 8th to 12th on the list of best presidents for ability to set an agenda and achieve it.

The ultimate post drained the man, by the time Polk left office in March of 1849 the person had aged considerably, evidenced (first president to be photographed) by weight loss, deep lines on his face and dark circles under his eyes. Only 103 days after leaving office died at his new home, Polk Place, in Nashville, Tennessee. Polk's last words showed his devotion to wife Sarah, "I love you, Sarah. For all eternity, I love you."

Polk was president during time when the abolition movement was gaining and the polarity between north and south increasing. As a wealthy landowner of Tennessee, this man did own slaves. This cold hearted obituary should have served notice on the growing enmity over slavery.

The death of the late Ex-President of the United States is announced to have taken place last Friday night, near Nashville, Tennessee. His complaint was chronic diarrhea. The transition from the Presidential chair to the grave has been swift and startling. Neither humanity, nor justice, nor liberty, has any cause to deplore the event. He probably died an unrepentant man-stealer. His administration has been a curse to the country, which will extend to the latest posterity.

William Lloyd Garrison

This was a good book, that I enjoyed and recommend. As new as it is, you'll have to purchase the hardback, it was worth it for me.