Presidents and Their Cabinets: James K. Polk
At the start of 1844, former President Martin Van Buren was the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, and James K. Polk was someone whose best political days seemed behind him. Polk had lost two successive elections for Governor of Tennessee. He attended his party's convention in Baltimore that May hoping to be picked as his party's vice-presidential nominee. As John Lennon once wrote, life is what happens to us when we're making other plans. At the convention Van Buren faced opposition within his party from Southerners because of his views on slavery, his unwillingness to agree to the annexation of Texas and his handling of the Panic of 1837 while president. The annexation of the Republic of Texas proposed by President John Tyler threw a curve into the race as Van Buren and the leading Whig candidate, Henry Clay, opposed annexation. Former President Andrew Jackson strongly supported bringing Texas into the union. Disappointed by Van Buren's position, Jackson decided to support Polk as the party's presidential candidate instead of his former Vice-president Van Buren.
As the 1844 Democratic National Convention began on May 27, 1844, the convention adopted a rule requiring the presidential nominee to receive the vote of 2/3 of the delegates. This ended any possibility of Van Buren's nomination. Van Buren won a majority on the first ballot, but failed to grow his support. On the eighth ballot, Polk won 44 of the 266 delegates. Following this ballot, several delegates rose to speak in support of Polk's candidacy and sensing the inevitable, Van Buren threw his support behind Polk, who won on the next ballot. After learning of his nomination, Polk promised to serve only one term, believing that this would help him win the support of other Democratic leaders.
The abolitionist Liberty party nominated Michigan's James G. Birney as its candidate while delegates to the 1844 Whig National Convention nominated Henry Clay on the first ballot. Whig stump made fun of Polk, mocking him with the chant "Who is James K. Polk?" But a lack of support for Clay in the south due to his failure to support Texas annexation, and a split in the vote in New York, where the Liberty Party siphoned off votes from the Whigsm worked in Polk's favor. Polk won the election, receiving 170 electoral votes to Clay's 105, and 49.5% of the popular vote. Polk lost both his birth state, North Carolina, and his state of residence, Tennessee. He won Pennsylvania and New York, where Clay lost critical votes to Birney. Had he won New York, Clay would have defeated Polk by a slim six-vote margin in the Electoral College. But he did not.
Polk was inaugurated as the nation's 11th president on March 4, 1845, in a ceremony held on the East Portico of the United States Capitol. Chief Justice Roger Tanney administered the oath of office. His inaugural address was written with the help of pro-Jackson newspaper editor Amos Kendall. A major theme of the speech was the nation's westward expansion.
Polk's cabinet met twice a week, and Polk and his six Cabinet members discussed all major issues during these meetings. Despite his soliciting the advice of his Cabinet, Polk was a micromanager. He involved himself in the minutiae of the various departments. He did not take vacations and barely rested on the Sabbath. By the end of his term in office, exhaustion from his hectic work schedule aged Polk noticeably and likely weakened him, making him more susceptible to the cholera that would end his life in June of 1849.
As Polk set about selecting a new cabinet, he decided to follow Andrew Jackson's advice to avoid picking men who had their own cabinet aspirations. But he made an exception when he chose to nominate Pennsylvania Senator James Buchanan for the key position of Secretary of State. Polk shared many of Buchanan's opinions on foreign policy views. Buchanan accepted the position and served as Secretary of State throughout Polk's full term in office. During that time, Polk and Buchanan nearly doubled the size of the United States through the Oregon Treaty and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Polk wrote in his diary of how he was frustrated over Buchanan's mind was easily changed on some issues. For example in negotiations with Britain over Oregon, Buchanan at first advised a compromise, but later advocated for annexation of the entire territory. Eventually, Buchanan agreed to a division at the 49th parallel. After the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, Buchanan advised Polk against taking territory South of the Rio Grande River and New Mexico. However, as the war came to an end, Buchanan argued for the annexation of further territory. This annoyed Polk, who suspected that Buchanan was changing his position in order to further his own presidential aspirations.
Polk wanted a New Yorker as Secretary of the Treasury and sought the advice of Empire State Democrats Van Buren and Silas Wright about who they recommended. They suggested newspaper editor Azariah C. Flagg. Instead Polk decided to nominate Senator Robert J. Walker of Mississippi to the position. Walker had strongly supported the annexation of Texas. As Secretary of the Treasury, he was responsible for the management of funds for the Mexican-American War
Tennessee Congressman Cave Johnson was a close friend and ally of Polk. He had worked at the Baltimore convention to help Polk win the presidential nomination and Polk rewarded him by selecting him to the position of Postmaster General, a key patronage position.
Incumbent Navy Secretary, John Y. Mason of Virginia was a good friend of Polk's but Polk nevertheless replaced him, because of Jackson's insistence that none of Tyler's Cabinet be kept. Polk didn't forget Mason however, and retained him in the cabinet in the position of Attorney-General. For the position of Navy Secretary, Polk selected George Bancroft, a historian who had also worked to bring about Polk's nomination. For the position of Secretary of War, Polk wanted to appoint Andrew Stevenson of Virginia, but knew that this would be politically contentious because it would meant that the cabinet would be heaving in slave state leaders. Instead he chose William L. Marcy, a New Yorker for this post. Marcy would serve in the position throughout Polk's presidency and would manage the War Department during the Mexican War.
Polk's Cabinet choices met with the approval of Andrew Jackson. Before leaving for Washington, Polk met with Jackson in January 1845 for the last time, as Jackson would die in June 1845. When news of Buchanan's selection for State was leaked, Vice President George Mifflin Dallas (a political rival of Buchanan's) was upset. Prominent southern Democrats insisted that Walker receive the higher position at Treasury rather than a new Yorker. Polk's appointment of Marcy as Secretary of War upset Van Buren because Marcy's affiliation was with the "Hunker" faction of New York Democrats, the rival to Van Buren's wing of the party. But Marcy would prove to be an able and loyal member of Polk's Cabinet. Polk angered Van Buren even more when he chose Walker for Treasury.
Polk frequently considered dismissing Buchanan from office, as he suspected Buchanan of placing his own presidential aspirations above service to Polk, but realized that Buchanan would be difficult to replace. After the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, Polk shook up his Cabinet, sending Bancroft to Great Britain as an ambassador, shifting Mason to his old position of Navy Secretary, and successfully nominating Nathan Clifford as Attorney General.
According to a story told decades later by George Bancroft, Polk set four clearly defined goals for his administration: (1) Reestablish the Independent Treasury System; (2) Reduce tariffs; (3) Acquire some or all of Oregon Territory; and (4) Acquire California and New Mexico from Mexico. But historian Tom Chaffin makes the case that this was something that George Bancroft made up. Chaffin's book Met His Every Goal (reviewed here in this community</a> ) provides a strong argument for why Bancroft's account is probably inaccurate and how it has contributed to a skewed assessment of Polk's presidency.
Polk's time in the White House took its toll on his health. He left the presidency exhausted by his years as president. After attending his successor's inauguration, he left Washington on March 6 for a tour of the South, to end in Nashville. Polk had arranged to buy a house there. On their journey home James and Sarah Polk were enthusiastically received and banquets were held in their honor. By the time the Polks reached Alabama, he was suffering from a bad cold. There were reports of cholera on the riverboat he was travelling on and several passengers on the boat died of the disease. Polk felt so ill that he went ashore for four days, staying in a hotel. A doctor assured him he did not have cholera, and Polk made the final leg, arriving in Nashville on April 2 to a huge reception. After a visit to James's mother in Columbia, the Polks settled into Polk Place. In early June, he fell ill again. He died on June 15. His last words were reported to be said to his wife: "I love you, Sarah, for all eternity, I love you".
As the 1844 Democratic National Convention began on May 27, 1844, the convention adopted a rule requiring the presidential nominee to receive the vote of 2/3 of the delegates. This ended any possibility of Van Buren's nomination. Van Buren won a majority on the first ballot, but failed to grow his support. On the eighth ballot, Polk won 44 of the 266 delegates. Following this ballot, several delegates rose to speak in support of Polk's candidacy and sensing the inevitable, Van Buren threw his support behind Polk, who won on the next ballot. After learning of his nomination, Polk promised to serve only one term, believing that this would help him win the support of other Democratic leaders.
The abolitionist Liberty party nominated Michigan's James G. Birney as its candidate while delegates to the 1844 Whig National Convention nominated Henry Clay on the first ballot. Whig stump made fun of Polk, mocking him with the chant "Who is James K. Polk?" But a lack of support for Clay in the south due to his failure to support Texas annexation, and a split in the vote in New York, where the Liberty Party siphoned off votes from the Whigsm worked in Polk's favor. Polk won the election, receiving 170 electoral votes to Clay's 105, and 49.5% of the popular vote. Polk lost both his birth state, North Carolina, and his state of residence, Tennessee. He won Pennsylvania and New York, where Clay lost critical votes to Birney. Had he won New York, Clay would have defeated Polk by a slim six-vote margin in the Electoral College. But he did not.
Polk was inaugurated as the nation's 11th president on March 4, 1845, in a ceremony held on the East Portico of the United States Capitol. Chief Justice Roger Tanney administered the oath of office. His inaugural address was written with the help of pro-Jackson newspaper editor Amos Kendall. A major theme of the speech was the nation's westward expansion.
Polk's cabinet met twice a week, and Polk and his six Cabinet members discussed all major issues during these meetings. Despite his soliciting the advice of his Cabinet, Polk was a micromanager. He involved himself in the minutiae of the various departments. He did not take vacations and barely rested on the Sabbath. By the end of his term in office, exhaustion from his hectic work schedule aged Polk noticeably and likely weakened him, making him more susceptible to the cholera that would end his life in June of 1849.
As Polk set about selecting a new cabinet, he decided to follow Andrew Jackson's advice to avoid picking men who had their own cabinet aspirations. But he made an exception when he chose to nominate Pennsylvania Senator James Buchanan for the key position of Secretary of State. Polk shared many of Buchanan's opinions on foreign policy views. Buchanan accepted the position and served as Secretary of State throughout Polk's full term in office. During that time, Polk and Buchanan nearly doubled the size of the United States through the Oregon Treaty and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Polk wrote in his diary of how he was frustrated over Buchanan's mind was easily changed on some issues. For example in negotiations with Britain over Oregon, Buchanan at first advised a compromise, but later advocated for annexation of the entire territory. Eventually, Buchanan agreed to a division at the 49th parallel. After the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, Buchanan advised Polk against taking territory South of the Rio Grande River and New Mexico. However, as the war came to an end, Buchanan argued for the annexation of further territory. This annoyed Polk, who suspected that Buchanan was changing his position in order to further his own presidential aspirations.
Polk wanted a New Yorker as Secretary of the Treasury and sought the advice of Empire State Democrats Van Buren and Silas Wright about who they recommended. They suggested newspaper editor Azariah C. Flagg. Instead Polk decided to nominate Senator Robert J. Walker of Mississippi to the position. Walker had strongly supported the annexation of Texas. As Secretary of the Treasury, he was responsible for the management of funds for the Mexican-American War
Tennessee Congressman Cave Johnson was a close friend and ally of Polk. He had worked at the Baltimore convention to help Polk win the presidential nomination and Polk rewarded him by selecting him to the position of Postmaster General, a key patronage position.
Incumbent Navy Secretary, John Y. Mason of Virginia was a good friend of Polk's but Polk nevertheless replaced him, because of Jackson's insistence that none of Tyler's Cabinet be kept. Polk didn't forget Mason however, and retained him in the cabinet in the position of Attorney-General. For the position of Navy Secretary, Polk selected George Bancroft, a historian who had also worked to bring about Polk's nomination. For the position of Secretary of War, Polk wanted to appoint Andrew Stevenson of Virginia, but knew that this would be politically contentious because it would meant that the cabinet would be heaving in slave state leaders. Instead he chose William L. Marcy, a New Yorker for this post. Marcy would serve in the position throughout Polk's presidency and would manage the War Department during the Mexican War.
Polk's Cabinet choices met with the approval of Andrew Jackson. Before leaving for Washington, Polk met with Jackson in January 1845 for the last time, as Jackson would die in June 1845. When news of Buchanan's selection for State was leaked, Vice President George Mifflin Dallas (a political rival of Buchanan's) was upset. Prominent southern Democrats insisted that Walker receive the higher position at Treasury rather than a new Yorker. Polk's appointment of Marcy as Secretary of War upset Van Buren because Marcy's affiliation was with the "Hunker" faction of New York Democrats, the rival to Van Buren's wing of the party. But Marcy would prove to be an able and loyal member of Polk's Cabinet. Polk angered Van Buren even more when he chose Walker for Treasury.
Polk frequently considered dismissing Buchanan from office, as he suspected Buchanan of placing his own presidential aspirations above service to Polk, but realized that Buchanan would be difficult to replace. After the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, Polk shook up his Cabinet, sending Bancroft to Great Britain as an ambassador, shifting Mason to his old position of Navy Secretary, and successfully nominating Nathan Clifford as Attorney General.
According to a story told decades later by George Bancroft, Polk set four clearly defined goals for his administration: (1) Reestablish the Independent Treasury System; (2) Reduce tariffs; (3) Acquire some or all of Oregon Territory; and (4) Acquire California and New Mexico from Mexico. But historian Tom Chaffin makes the case that this was something that George Bancroft made up. Chaffin's book Met His Every Goal (reviewed here in this community</a> ) provides a strong argument for why Bancroft's account is probably inaccurate and how it has contributed to a skewed assessment of Polk's presidency.
Polk's time in the White House took its toll on his health. He left the presidency exhausted by his years as president. After attending his successor's inauguration, he left Washington on March 6 for a tour of the South, to end in Nashville. Polk had arranged to buy a house there. On their journey home James and Sarah Polk were enthusiastically received and banquets were held in their honor. By the time the Polks reached Alabama, he was suffering from a bad cold. There were reports of cholera on the riverboat he was travelling on and several passengers on the boat died of the disease. Polk felt so ill that he went ashore for four days, staying in a hotel. A doctor assured him he did not have cholera, and Polk made the final leg, arriving in Nashville on April 2 to a huge reception. After a visit to James's mother in Columbia, the Polks settled into Polk Place. In early June, he fell ill again. He died on June 15. His last words were reported to be said to his wife: "I love you, Sarah, for all eternity, I love you".