Dez Prez Rankings: Should Not Be Forgotten

#7 of 39:
James K. Polk (11th president)
1845-49
Democrat


This is a sexy pick amongst historians (as sexy as discussing presidential history can be), although the general public has mostly forgotten James K. Polk (unless they are They Might Be Giants fans.) Polk was handpicked by Andrew Jackson to run for president for the Democrats in 1844 on promises of securing Texas and taking Oregon all the way up to Alaska.

Polk entered office with four goals, and he accomplished them all within four years, choosing to serve only one term as president. Now that is efficiency. First, he wanted to lower tariffs. Check. Secondly, he wanted to reestablish the independent treasury that the Whigs had destroyed. Check. The other two were a little more complicated.

At one time, the vast Oregon territory had been claimed by the British, the Russians, the Spanish and the United States. Eventually it came down to a showdown between the Americans and the British, and war was on the horizon. But Polk skillfully negotiated with the British, backing off the 54-40 demands, and offering the 49th parallel as the boundary between American and British territory. After first rejecting the offer, the British returned to the table and accepted it. The boundary remains today, and Polk avoided a war that we could ill afford to fight at the time.


ABOVE: Polk was responsible for adding about 1/3 of the continental United States to our territory. He secured Texas once and for all, won the Mexican Cession from Mexico and got the Oregon territory from Britain through treaty.

The Mexican War was brilliantly fought by Polk. Manifest destiny demanded that we occupy this land coast to coast, and we wanted California from Mexico. The Mexicans still did not acknowledge that Texas had won its independence, constantly threatening to take it back. After offering the Mexicans $25 million for California, which they quickly rejected, Polk sent troops down to the disputed border area in Texas. Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and attacked, giving Polk the excuse he needed to declare war (of course, from the Mexican point of view, much of Texas was still Mexican territory.) Polk was a very hands-on commander in chief, trusting nobody and devising military strategy on his own. We took California and New Mexico easily, and Gen. Winfield Scott marched all the way to Mexico City fighting superior numbers, disease, mountainous enemy terrain and mutinous troops in one of the most spectacular military campaigns in American history. The treaty signed with Mexico forced them to acknowledge U.S. title to Texas down to the Rio Grande and to cede the entire Southwest to the U.S. for $17.25 million.

The Mexican War had important consequences beyond adding lots of real estate to the United States. It was a training ground for Civil War leaders, it enhanced our military reputation worldwide, and brought the slavery issue front and center once again (would slavery be allowed in this vast new territory?), bringing the Civil War ever closer.


ABOVE: They Might Be Giants appreciates Polk’s accomplishments, as demonstrated by their song, “James K. Polk.” Here they are performing it at a Border’s Bookstore. If you listen to the lyrics, they actually summarize Polk’s accomplishments perfectly.

By all accounts, Polk was one of the hardest working presidents we’ve ever had. He was a man of detail, and did not delegate. He worked himself so hard that it brought him to an early grave. As a president, we've had few finer. Only six, in fact.

Pros:
• Lowered tariffs
• Re-established the independent treasury
• Settled the Oregon dispute with Britain
• Successfully fought the Mexican War, securing Texas and gaining all of the Southwest United States, including California
• Set four distinct goals and accomplished them all within one term

Cons:
• None