Polk added 1 million square miles of territory to the United States and reformed the federal monetary and tariff systems. Viewed from the standpoint of results, he was perhaps the one of the greatest President in our history. Polk was not one easily influenced by those around him, saying "I intended to be Myself President."
He was born in North Carolina in 1795 and educated at the state university, studied law in Nashville and was admitted to the bar in 1820. In 1825 he was elected to the Congress where he spent 14 years in the House of Representatives, serving as speaker from 1835-1839. Polk was a hard-working legislator and faithfully supported the policies of Andrew Jackson.
He was a safe party man until 1844 when he became the first dark horse candidate to win the Presidency. A famous quote by Whigs at that time was "Who is James K. Polk?" He gained the Presidency on his platform of annexation of Texas and the occupation of Oregon.
Polk had stated he wanted no war with Mexico over Texas, but he did want recognition of Texas' annexation, and the delineation of the southern and western borders by the Rio Grande. He was determined to gain Mexico's remaining possessions north of the Gila River, New Mexico (Nevada and Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming) and most of all California. To get them he was willing to pay in cash if possible, in blood if necessary.
Next time...Mexico doesn't agree
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Today in Pioneer History: "On April 6, 1896, the Olympic Games, a long-lost tradition of ancient Greece, are reborn in Athens 1,500 years after being banned by Roman Emperor Theodosius I. At the opening of the Athens Games, King Georgios I of Greece and a crowd of 60,000 spectators welcomed athletes from 13 nations.
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