Inauguration Day 1849
James K. Polk achieved most of his goals during his single term as President, but one goal he failed to achieve was to turn the White House over to a Democrat. Although he was cordial to his successor, privately he didn't think much of Zachary Taylor. He believed that Taylor was in over his head. On Inauguration Day of 1849, Polk recorded the following in his diary:
"General Taylor is, I have no doubt, a well meaning old man. He is however, uneducated, exceedingly ignorant of public affairs, and I should judge of very ordinary capacity. He will be in the hands of others, and must rely wholly on his cabinet to administer the government."
James and Sarah Polk spent vacated the White House and spent the night prior to the transfer of power at the Irving Hotel in Washington. A carriage carrying Taylor picked up Polk at the hotel on the morning of the inauguration. Normally March 4th was inauguration day, but in 1849 that day fell on a Sunday, so Monday, March 5th was inauguration day. An crowd of approximately 20,000 gathered at the East Portico of the Capitol for the ceremony. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. The day of the inauguration started off being cloudy with snow flurries, turning to heavy snow later in the day.
In his inaugural address, Taylor expressed his feeling of humility at being chosen President. He paid tribute to George Washington, and reminded his audience about Washington's admonition against "entangling alliances." He told his audience that his presidency would have one marked difference from that of his predecessor: Taylor intended to be more deferential to Congress. He said:
"It shall be my duty to recommend such constitutional measures to Congress as may be necessary and proper to secure encouragement and protection to the great interests of agriculture, commerce and manufacture, to improve the rivers and harbors, to provide for the speedy extinguishment of the public debt, to enforce strict accountability on the part of all officers of the Government and the utmost economy in all public expenditures. But it is for the wisdom of Congress itself, in which all legislative powers are vested in the Constitution, to regulate these and other matters of domestic policy. I shall look with confidence to the enlightened patriotism of that body."
Polk strongly disagreed with a remark made by Taylor about the future of California and Oregon. Polk wrote in his diary:
"Something was said which drew from General Taylor the expression of views and opinions which generally surprised me. They were to the effect that California and Oregon were too distant to become members of the Union, and that it would be better for them to be an independent government. He said that our people would inhabit them and repeated that it would be better for them to form an independent government for themselves. These are alarming opinions to be entertained by the President of the United States. General Taylor's comments, I hope, have not been well considered."
After the ceremony, Polk and Taylor traveled by carriage together and when Polk was dropped off at the Irving Hotel, he politely wished Taylor success in his term in office.
"General Taylor is, I have no doubt, a well meaning old man. He is however, uneducated, exceedingly ignorant of public affairs, and I should judge of very ordinary capacity. He will be in the hands of others, and must rely wholly on his cabinet to administer the government."
James and Sarah Polk spent vacated the White House and spent the night prior to the transfer of power at the Irving Hotel in Washington. A carriage carrying Taylor picked up Polk at the hotel on the morning of the inauguration. Normally March 4th was inauguration day, but in 1849 that day fell on a Sunday, so Monday, March 5th was inauguration day. An crowd of approximately 20,000 gathered at the East Portico of the Capitol for the ceremony. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. The day of the inauguration started off being cloudy with snow flurries, turning to heavy snow later in the day.
In his inaugural address, Taylor expressed his feeling of humility at being chosen President. He paid tribute to George Washington, and reminded his audience about Washington's admonition against "entangling alliances." He told his audience that his presidency would have one marked difference from that of his predecessor: Taylor intended to be more deferential to Congress. He said:
"It shall be my duty to recommend such constitutional measures to Congress as may be necessary and proper to secure encouragement and protection to the great interests of agriculture, commerce and manufacture, to improve the rivers and harbors, to provide for the speedy extinguishment of the public debt, to enforce strict accountability on the part of all officers of the Government and the utmost economy in all public expenditures. But it is for the wisdom of Congress itself, in which all legislative powers are vested in the Constitution, to regulate these and other matters of domestic policy. I shall look with confidence to the enlightened patriotism of that body."
Polk strongly disagreed with a remark made by Taylor about the future of California and Oregon. Polk wrote in his diary:
"Something was said which drew from General Taylor the expression of views and opinions which generally surprised me. They were to the effect that California and Oregon were too distant to become members of the Union, and that it would be better for them to be an independent government. He said that our people would inhabit them and repeated that it would be better for them to form an independent government for themselves. These are alarming opinions to be entertained by the President of the United States. General Taylor's comments, I hope, have not been well considered."
After the ceremony, Polk and Taylor traveled by carriage together and when Polk was dropped off at the Irving Hotel, he politely wished Taylor success in his term in office.