The First Ladies: Sarah Polk
I think that Sarah Polk is my favourite first lady. Like Grace Coolidge, Pat Nixon and others, her husband would have been a difficult man to love, and yet his dying words were a profession of his eternal love for her. It is also likely that a crude gallstone operation that James had as a teenager left him unable to function sexually, so her devotion to him would have had to been genuine affection. It seems that her kindness is such a stark contrast to his workaholism and humorless nature, which maker her seem all the more lovely, like a flower in a desert.
She was born Sarah Childress on September 4, 1803 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Her father was Colonel Joel Childress and her mother was Elizabeth Whitsett Childress. Sarah was the younger of two daughters and third of six children. She was a tall woman with black hair that was parted in the middle and worn in ringlets. She had brown eyes and sallow coloring, as a result of which, she was given the nickname "Sahara Sarah". She was a very devout Presbyterian. Her father was a prosperous planter, merchant, tavern keeper and militia officer who raised his children in luxury. Sarah was educated at the Danil Elam School in Murfreesboro. As a child Sarah met General and Mrs. Andrew Jackson. She later attended the Moravian Female Academy in Salem, North Carolina in 1817 until her father’s death in 1819.
After her father’s death, Sarah and her family suffered a number of financial reverses due to her brother’s mismanagement of the estate. Sarah met James K. Polk, a farmer schoolmate of her brother, James Knox Polk. He was an ambitious, earnest, rather silent young man who had the approval of Andrew Jackson. Jackson, according to legend, urged Polk to marry Miss Childress, who was "wealthy, pretty, ambitious and intelligent." Sarah encouraged James Polk to run for the state legislature and soon after his election, on January 1, 1824, they were married in her home in Murfreesboro.
Her personality was similar to her husband's in that both were serious, religious, and had a love of politics. Sarah was known to remain behind with the men to talk, rather than retire to the parlor with the ladies. Humor was never a strong point with her (or with her husband). She loved to read and she regularly read the newspapers. She eventually took on the duties of an unpaid secretary to her husband. The Polks had no children, likely due to his inability due to a gallstone operation he had as a teenager, and his career became like a surrogate child for Sarah.
Sarah Polk was able to be a part of her husband’s life and career to an unusual degree. Her sharp intellect, wit and charm were definite assets to his career. Future President Franklin Pierce said he would rather discuss politics with Sarah than with James. But for all her love of politics, Sarah Polk never forgot her place or the place of women in society at the time. Sarah joined her husband in Washington, where he was serving in the House of Representatives. She would remain at her husband’s side – as his nurse, his secretary, his confidante, and his unofficial chief of staff. Her strong religious beliefs were respected, and no business was transacted on the Sabbath. She was against card playing, dancing and hard liquor as part of her religious beliefs. Although she was a supportive wife, his did not mean that she didn’t have a mind of her own. She disagreed with Polk’s stance against the use of paper money, pointing out how difficult it would be for a woman to carry gold or silver on her person.
In the height of the Peggy Eaton affair, Sarah Polk created something of a difficult time for her husband, from whom Jackson expected full support. Peggy Eaton was the wife of the Secretary of War. She was shunned by Washington wives because she had an immoral reputation, but Andrew Jackson insisted that the Cabinet wives accept and receive her. Sarah refused.
After his election as Speaker of the House, Polk and his wife had even more exposure to the social life in Washington. In 1838 they returned to Tennessee where Polk campaigned for Governor. Sarah remained behind the scenes, organizing the campaign. Polk won that election, but was defeated in 1841 and in 1843. He then returned to his law practice. In 1844, to his great surprise, he was nominated as a dark horse candidate by the Democrats. Sarah handled the campaign from their home in Columbia and wrote the press releases. The campaign was successful, and the Polks departed for Washington early in 1845. Sarah asked that the bands greeting them in various cities along the way refrain from playing on Sundays.
Wearing a red and gray striped silk dress, a beige cape and a red velvet bonnet, Sarah watched as her husband took the oath of office. Later that evening, though they didn’t dance, but Sarah appeared at the Inaugural Ball wearing a powder blue silk dress, with a brocade of poinsettias woven into the material. In her hands, she carried her husband’s gift to her: a fan bearing the portraits of the first eleven presidents.
As first lady, Sarah Polk did not spend lavishly. She saved half the money given to her to refurbish the White House, though she did install gas lighting in 1846. Her social occasions were proper, genteel and even elegant, but lacked the spark and music of Julia Tyler’s receptions. She thought that dancing was improper in the Presidents’ house, and it was banned until Caroline Scott Harrison restored it in 1889. After a short interval, Mrs. Polk restored the playing of "Hail to the Chief" because her rather short husband tended to be overlooked, and the tune helped people to identify him.
She turned to Dolley Madison for advice. She tried to be on good terms with everyone, even enemies of her husband and, in doing so, won high favor from the politicians. In private, as seen from her diary and her letters, she expressed herself freely on all issues, personalities and topics. Her diary suggests that the First Lady preferred the company of men and had few women friends.
Twice a week the White House was opened to all callers. All hard liquor was banned, although wine was served at state dinners. The Polks rarely traveled, and he only traveled without her on one occasion. On the occasion of her last White House reception in February 1849, Mrs. Polk followed second to Dolley Madison who walked at the side of the President. Sarah Polk was the first First Lady to be photographed on the White House grounds and the first to be photographed with her husband.
The long trip home, after the inauguration of Zachary Taylor, was exhausting for both Polks. Weakened by their four demanding years in the White House, the Polks, particularly James, had little strength to combat the fever that afflicted them. James Polk died on June 15, 1849. His last words were said to be: "I love you, Sarah, for all eternity, I love you."
Sarah Polk’s last forty plus years were spent in Nashville at the home she and her husband had built called "Polk Place". During the Civil War, both sides respected Mrs. Polk’s neutrality, and she entertained officers from both armies. After James Polk’s death, Sarah turned their home into a shrine in his memory. He was even buried on the grounds of Polk Place, until it was torn down in 1893 and his body, along with that of Sarah, was moved to the grounds of the State Capitol. She remained in mourning, wearing black, though her life was brightened by the adoption of a great niece, Sarah Polk Jetton, and the visits of President and Mrs. Hayes and, later, President and Mrs. Cleveland.
Sarah Polk lived for almost 88 years. She died at Polk Place, in Nashville, Tennessee on August 14, 1891.
She was born Sarah Childress on September 4, 1803 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Her father was Colonel Joel Childress and her mother was Elizabeth Whitsett Childress. Sarah was the younger of two daughters and third of six children. She was a tall woman with black hair that was parted in the middle and worn in ringlets. She had brown eyes and sallow coloring, as a result of which, she was given the nickname "Sahara Sarah". She was a very devout Presbyterian. Her father was a prosperous planter, merchant, tavern keeper and militia officer who raised his children in luxury. Sarah was educated at the Danil Elam School in Murfreesboro. As a child Sarah met General and Mrs. Andrew Jackson. She later attended the Moravian Female Academy in Salem, North Carolina in 1817 until her father’s death in 1819.
After her father’s death, Sarah and her family suffered a number of financial reverses due to her brother’s mismanagement of the estate. Sarah met James K. Polk, a farmer schoolmate of her brother, James Knox Polk. He was an ambitious, earnest, rather silent young man who had the approval of Andrew Jackson. Jackson, according to legend, urged Polk to marry Miss Childress, who was "wealthy, pretty, ambitious and intelligent." Sarah encouraged James Polk to run for the state legislature and soon after his election, on January 1, 1824, they were married in her home in Murfreesboro.
Her personality was similar to her husband's in that both were serious, religious, and had a love of politics. Sarah was known to remain behind with the men to talk, rather than retire to the parlor with the ladies. Humor was never a strong point with her (or with her husband). She loved to read and she regularly read the newspapers. She eventually took on the duties of an unpaid secretary to her husband. The Polks had no children, likely due to his inability due to a gallstone operation he had as a teenager, and his career became like a surrogate child for Sarah.
Sarah Polk was able to be a part of her husband’s life and career to an unusual degree. Her sharp intellect, wit and charm were definite assets to his career. Future President Franklin Pierce said he would rather discuss politics with Sarah than with James. But for all her love of politics, Sarah Polk never forgot her place or the place of women in society at the time. Sarah joined her husband in Washington, where he was serving in the House of Representatives. She would remain at her husband’s side – as his nurse, his secretary, his confidante, and his unofficial chief of staff. Her strong religious beliefs were respected, and no business was transacted on the Sabbath. She was against card playing, dancing and hard liquor as part of her religious beliefs. Although she was a supportive wife, his did not mean that she didn’t have a mind of her own. She disagreed with Polk’s stance against the use of paper money, pointing out how difficult it would be for a woman to carry gold or silver on her person.
In the height of the Peggy Eaton affair, Sarah Polk created something of a difficult time for her husband, from whom Jackson expected full support. Peggy Eaton was the wife of the Secretary of War. She was shunned by Washington wives because she had an immoral reputation, but Andrew Jackson insisted that the Cabinet wives accept and receive her. Sarah refused.
After his election as Speaker of the House, Polk and his wife had even more exposure to the social life in Washington. In 1838 they returned to Tennessee where Polk campaigned for Governor. Sarah remained behind the scenes, organizing the campaign. Polk won that election, but was defeated in 1841 and in 1843. He then returned to his law practice. In 1844, to his great surprise, he was nominated as a dark horse candidate by the Democrats. Sarah handled the campaign from their home in Columbia and wrote the press releases. The campaign was successful, and the Polks departed for Washington early in 1845. Sarah asked that the bands greeting them in various cities along the way refrain from playing on Sundays.
Wearing a red and gray striped silk dress, a beige cape and a red velvet bonnet, Sarah watched as her husband took the oath of office. Later that evening, though they didn’t dance, but Sarah appeared at the Inaugural Ball wearing a powder blue silk dress, with a brocade of poinsettias woven into the material. In her hands, she carried her husband’s gift to her: a fan bearing the portraits of the first eleven presidents.
As first lady, Sarah Polk did not spend lavishly. She saved half the money given to her to refurbish the White House, though she did install gas lighting in 1846. Her social occasions were proper, genteel and even elegant, but lacked the spark and music of Julia Tyler’s receptions. She thought that dancing was improper in the Presidents’ house, and it was banned until Caroline Scott Harrison restored it in 1889. After a short interval, Mrs. Polk restored the playing of "Hail to the Chief" because her rather short husband tended to be overlooked, and the tune helped people to identify him.
She turned to Dolley Madison for advice. She tried to be on good terms with everyone, even enemies of her husband and, in doing so, won high favor from the politicians. In private, as seen from her diary and her letters, she expressed herself freely on all issues, personalities and topics. Her diary suggests that the First Lady preferred the company of men and had few women friends.
Twice a week the White House was opened to all callers. All hard liquor was banned, although wine was served at state dinners. The Polks rarely traveled, and he only traveled without her on one occasion. On the occasion of her last White House reception in February 1849, Mrs. Polk followed second to Dolley Madison who walked at the side of the President. Sarah Polk was the first First Lady to be photographed on the White House grounds and the first to be photographed with her husband.
The long trip home, after the inauguration of Zachary Taylor, was exhausting for both Polks. Weakened by their four demanding years in the White House, the Polks, particularly James, had little strength to combat the fever that afflicted them. James Polk died on June 15, 1849. His last words were said to be: "I love you, Sarah, for all eternity, I love you."
Sarah Polk’s last forty plus years were spent in Nashville at the home she and her husband had built called "Polk Place". During the Civil War, both sides respected Mrs. Polk’s neutrality, and she entertained officers from both armies. After James Polk’s death, Sarah turned their home into a shrine in his memory. He was even buried on the grounds of Polk Place, until it was torn down in 1893 and his body, along with that of Sarah, was moved to the grounds of the State Capitol. She remained in mourning, wearing black, though her life was brightened by the adoption of a great niece, Sarah Polk Jetton, and the visits of President and Mrs. Hayes and, later, President and Mrs. Cleveland.
Sarah Polk lived for almost 88 years. She died at Polk Place, in Nashville, Tennessee on August 14, 1891.