JOHN POLK – JAMES POLK: Who is John Polk?
On November 13, 2009 Newsweek ran an review written by Donald Graham. In that piece of writing Graham reviewed a biography by novelist Robert Merry. Graham points out that Robert Merry had written a compelling account regarding President John Polk. John/James Polk is described as an odd man brought to life in this book. A man who’s prudish, guarded, spirited in his policies, cunning in his politics and spineless face-to-face. Merry goes on to describe Polk as a smaller-than-life figure. But he goes on to make clear that Polk is a great deal more remarkable than his reputation.
It is held that, Polk is the least significant president of the United States. On the other hand, he fought the Mexican War and extended the Union by settling claims to Texas and the Oregon Territory. These settlement of claims made way for the growth of the USA plus the acquisition of California and the Southwest. This growth in addition solidified national financial policy. According to the author Merry, President Polk completed most of his desired goals when in office principally as a consequence of his own initiative. Merry describes Polk as an intelligent political individual.
Merry comments that Polk was a most improbable president. As an example, he was elected immediately after two defeats for the governor of Tennessee, then exhausted years maneuvering for the Democratic vice presidential nomination. When the favored nominee, Martin Van Buren, chose the wrong side on Texas annexation in 1844, Polk’s sharp-witted political team advanced him to a deadlocked convention. Because of this Polk was the first dark-horse nominee elected president.
Soon after James was 11, the family sold the homestead and traveled west to join James’s grandfather in Tennessee. Young James attended academics there, then returned to North Carolina to become an honor student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Soon after graduating in 1818, he moved back to Tennessee, studied law, and established a practice. In 1824 Polk married Sarah Childress, whose congenial manner and caring companion helped advance his political career.
