Polk by Walter R. Borneman
Review of the Biography of the Eleventh President of the U.S.
Aug 7, 2008
Borneman has written other books concerning American history, such as 1812: The War That Forged a Nation, and The French and Indian War: Deciding the Fate of North America. Polk is his first biography and he handles it skillfully.
Dark Horse?
James K. Polk started his political career at a young age and rose quickly, elected to the House of Representatives at age 29 and elected Speaker of the House at 39. He was a stalwart of fellow Tennessean, President Andrew Jackson, pushing his policies in the House. A minor quibble of the book is that it lacks detail of Polk's efforts in the House. There is no mention of Polk's actions during the Gag Rule controversy.
However, Borneman's description of Polk's campaigns for governor of Tennessee are fascinating. Polk crisscrossed the state with his Whig opponent delivering stump speeches for several months to the point of exhaustion. After winning the governorship in 1839, Polk lost two successive reelection bids. His career seemed to be over in 1843.
Out of nowhere, Polk won the Democratic nomination and the Presidency in 1844, causing historians to call him a dark horse. Borneman refutes this. Polk used his skill as early as 1842, courting leading presidential candidate Martin Van Buren for the Vice Presidency. He had his surrogates at the convention cajole Van Buren delegates. Thanks to Borneman shining more light on the dark horse characterization, we can appreciate Polk's political abilities more.
U.S.-Mexican War
Polk was a decisive president. He set four goals:
- Acquiring California and the Southwest
- Complete control of the Oregon territory
- Lower tariffs
- A sub-treasury plan
He achieved them all. Polk was determined to go to war with Mexico to get territory. By sending forces to the disputed Rio Grande border, he triggered a battle. Polk's message to Congress announced that a state of war already existed, forcing Congress to only concur. Polk, as Commander-in-Chief, expanded the war powers of the President.
But, as Borneman sensibly shows, Polk's decisiveness had an ugly side. He was paranoid that his commanding generals in Mexico, Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott, would use the war to launch their own presidential bids as Whigs in 1848. When Scott got into a dispute with Polk's favorite general, the dubious Gideon Pillow, Polk was more than happy to recall Scott and replace him with a Democratic general.
Polk also spearheaded a scheme in which Santa Anna, exiled in Cuba, would return to Mexico unmolested by the U.S., take control of the Mexican government, then work out a land for cash deal with the U.S.. The plan backfired. Santa Anna did take control, but organized an army to fight the Americans. These unfavorable details of Polk enhance the book, giving it an evenhanded quality.
Borneman's Polk is certainly worthy of being the definitive biography of Polk for some time to come. For those who are interested in the Presidents of the United States, or Jacksonian politics, or American history in general, this is a must read.
Published by Random House, 2008, ISBN: 978-1-4000-6560-8
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