Remembering James K. Polk

Remembering James K. Polk

June 15, 1849: Commemorating the death of our 11th president, who expanded our borders by more than a million square miles

Print of James K Polk
  

Under James Knox Polk, the United States added territory that now composes the states of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, much of New Mexico, and portions of Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. More than any other President, Polk pursued "Manifest Destiny," the conviction that Providence had foreordained the United States to spread its republican institutions across North America. He accomplished every major goal that he set for himself as president and in the process successfully waged war against Mexico, obtaining for the United States most of its present boundaries as a nation.

Born in North Carolina but serving as a seven-term representative from Tennessee, Polk was President Andrew Jackson's closest ally in Congress. When he finally did run for president, he vowed to serve only four years, and kept his promise even though he was popular enough to have easily won reelection. Despite Polk's accomplishments, many historians today regard him not as a great president but as one who missed opportunities. He failed to understand the depth of popular emotion over the westward expansion of slavery, leaving tension building and unresolved at the end of his term in 1849.

Find out more about James K. Polk's life, presidency, and legacy

In 2013, Daniel Walker Howe visited the Miller Center to deliver the lecture “James Knox Polk and the war with Mexico.”

James K. Polk dramatized on radio

From 1947–1953, ABC Radio's Mr. President told tales of "the elected leader of our people, our fellow citizen and neighbor. These are little-known stories of men who lived in the White House, dramatic, exciting events in their lives that you and I so rarely hear."

Each week featured a different president, usually played by Edward Arnold. By using only the title "Mr. President" during the broadcast, the program withheld the identity of the subject until the very end. This episode, from April 11, 1948, tells the story of the Oregon Territory.

Audio courtesy of the van der Voort radio recordings collection

They Might Be Giants: James K. Polk

In 1990, the band They Might Be Giants released James K. Polk as the B-side on their single Istanbul (Not Constantinople). It also appeared on 1996's Factory Showroom album.

There is some pretty good history in the song, including Polk's nicknames, "Napoleon of the Stump" and "Young Hickory."

Lyrics to James K. Polk

In 1844, the Democrats were split
The three nominees for the presidential candidate
Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist
James Buchanan, a moderate
Louis Cass, a general and expansionist
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up
He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He's just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
And annex the land the Mexicans command
And when the votes were cast the winner was
Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tariffs fell
And made the English sell the Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump

Written by John Flansburgh, John Linnell, John C. Flansburgh, John S. Linnell, Matthew Hill • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc