The Presidential Diarists: James K. Polk
James K. Polk was one of seven presidents who kept a diary of his presidency. (The others were both Presidents Adams, Rutherford Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan.) The original manuscript was copied by Harvard Professor (and Polk cabinet member) George Bancroft, who had planned on writing a history of the Polk administration.
Polk's diary is a first-hand account of his administration. Commencing on August 26, 1845, the diary continues through to May of 1849 when Polk returned home to Tennessee after his term as president. (Polk died in June of that year.) Some historians (such as Polk biographer William Dusinberre) argue that Polk's diary is disingenuous and was written with an eye towards vindicating Polk in the eyes of future historians. Conversely, historians like Jesse Reeves accept Polk's explanation that he kept his diary solely for the purpose of aiding his own memory.
The diary begins with Polk's account of a conversation that he had with his Secretary of State, future President James Buchanan, on the subject of Oregon territory. Polk writes "the conversation was of so important a character that I deemed it proper on the same evening to reduce the substance of it to writing for the purpose of retaining it more distinctly in my memory." He goes on to write "It was this circumstance which first suggested to me the idea, if not the necessity, of keeping a journal or diary of events and transactions which might occur during my presidency." Only twice in four years does it appear that Polk wrote about certain events more than a day after they occurred.
One commentor on Polk's diary makes the observation that Polk usually gets to the point of the subjects in the diary and rarely digresses from the topic at hand. Occasionally however he complains about office-seekers. The diary also gives a clear of those in his administration that he trusted and those he did not. For example, he describes Buchanan in unflattering terms sometimes, as a ditherer or as acting like "an old maid". Other times he describes Buchanan as "able". He also comments unfavorably about how Buchanan and John C. Calhoun sacrifice party principles for personal ambition. He is complimentary towards cabinet members Bancroft, Cave Johnson, John Mason and Nathan Clifford, all good old-style Jacksonian Democrats.
Historian Jesse Reeves says of the diary, that it "may, without overstatement, be described as an event of extreme great importance in the literature of American history and government." He goes on to comment:
"The Presidency is largely what the President makes it. Polk showed what a determined, industrious, withal partisan President might do when not handicapped by an ambition for re-election. The diary is more than a human document; it is a first hand account of the Presidency from 1845 to 1849."
Polk's diary is a first-hand account of his administration. Commencing on August 26, 1845, the diary continues through to May of 1849 when Polk returned home to Tennessee after his term as president. (Polk died in June of that year.) Some historians (such as Polk biographer William Dusinberre) argue that Polk's diary is disingenuous and was written with an eye towards vindicating Polk in the eyes of future historians. Conversely, historians like Jesse Reeves accept Polk's explanation that he kept his diary solely for the purpose of aiding his own memory.
The diary begins with Polk's account of a conversation that he had with his Secretary of State, future President James Buchanan, on the subject of Oregon territory. Polk writes "the conversation was of so important a character that I deemed it proper on the same evening to reduce the substance of it to writing for the purpose of retaining it more distinctly in my memory." He goes on to write "It was this circumstance which first suggested to me the idea, if not the necessity, of keeping a journal or diary of events and transactions which might occur during my presidency." Only twice in four years does it appear that Polk wrote about certain events more than a day after they occurred.
One commentor on Polk's diary makes the observation that Polk usually gets to the point of the subjects in the diary and rarely digresses from the topic at hand. Occasionally however he complains about office-seekers. The diary also gives a clear of those in his administration that he trusted and those he did not. For example, he describes Buchanan in unflattering terms sometimes, as a ditherer or as acting like "an old maid". Other times he describes Buchanan as "able". He also comments unfavorably about how Buchanan and John C. Calhoun sacrifice party principles for personal ambition. He is complimentary towards cabinet members Bancroft, Cave Johnson, John Mason and Nathan Clifford, all good old-style Jacksonian Democrats.
Historian Jesse Reeves says of the diary, that it "may, without overstatement, be described as an event of extreme great importance in the literature of American history and government." He goes on to comment:
"The Presidency is largely what the President makes it. Polk showed what a determined, industrious, withal partisan President might do when not handicapped by an ambition for re-election. The diary is more than a human document; it is a first hand account of the Presidency from 1845 to 1849."