James K Polk

In the midst of this dismal and ridiculous election season, let's take a moment to remember a dark horse candidate for the Democratic nomination in 1844 who became an enormously successful one-term president.  I give you James K Polk, immortalized by They Might Be Giants in their song of the same name.

What were his successes?  

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

Three months after leaving office James Polk was dead from cholera.  Perhaps the most consequential of our 19th century presidents other than Lincoln.