James K Polk

On President's Day, a tribute to perhaps the most consequential one-term president in our history, James K Polk.  A compulsive workhorse, quarrelsome, and not a guy I'd invite for dinner, but who grabbed the American southwest, got the British to give up their claims to the American northwest, lowered tariffs, and established an independent treasury which handled federal finances into the early 20th century.

Became president in March 1845, leaving office in March 1849, and dying three months later, the shortest ex-presidency in our history.

The song is from They Might Be Giants.  The founders are graduates of Lincoln-Sudbury High School, down the road from where we lived in the mid-70s.

 

In 1844, the Democrats were split

The three nominees for the presidential candidate
Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist
James Buchanan, a moderate
Louis Cass, a general and expansionist
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up
He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

 

Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He's just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
And annex the land the Mexicans command
And when the votes were cast the winner was
Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

 

In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tariffs fell
And made the English sell the Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump