Polk

The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America

By: Walter R. Borneman

Narrated by: Alan Nebelthau

The Best American Presidents of All Time is a somewhat nebulous list. The methodology for choosing the best changes from one poll to the next, and the criteria varies with each historian's personal biases. But over the years, there has been a general top 10-12 most historians agree on: Lincoln, FDR, Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, Wilson, Jackson, Reagan, and James K. Polk. That's right - James K. Polk.

This is a major political biography of a great American president who won a war, transformed the government, and doubled the size of the United States...in four years.

When Polk was sworn in as the 11th president, what followed was one of the most consequential presidencies in history. Against his opponents, he unabashedly proclaimed U.S. policy to be one of continental expansion. By the time he left office, Oregon, California, New Mexico, and Texas had been admitted into the Union, and Congress' mandate to wage war was forever rendered a rubber stamp by a transformed and empowered executive branch. True to his word, Polk stepped down after one term.

He remains relatively little known. In fact, no full-length modern biography of Polk has ever been written. Until now.

©2008 Walter Borneman (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC

Very Interesting

I learned a lot concerning this president who is well regarded by historians but hardly known by the general public. His four -year term was highlighted by the Mexican War and American growth to the Pacific.

Great read!

Very well laid out book explaining how Andrew Jackson's chosen successor was very effective in office achieving all 4 of his campaign promises. Narrator does a great job.

Decent bio of a consequential POTUS

As someone who’s read or listened to over 2 dozen presidential biographies, I found this a perfectly respectable and workmanlike bio of a president worth knowing more about, considering his significant influence on US territory, on the power of the presidency and on our dubious history of land grabs and imperialism.

I was not crazy about the narrator, whose somewhat breathy voice required me to turn up the volume when road noise in the car increased.

Polk: Outstanding, but overlooked president

An interesting and detailed look at one of America’s most successful presidents. Promising to serve only one term, Polk established 4 primary goals for his presidency and accomplished each of them. Having served in Congress, including terms as Speaker of the House, and as governor of Tennessee, Polk entered office with knowledge of how Washington worked and with executive experience. Polk oversaw war with Mexico, settled the longstanding dispute with Britain over the boundary of Oregon, and expanded US territory to include nearly all of what is the contiguous lower 48 states. A fascinating story about a disciple of Tennessee’s first president, Andrew Jackson, Old Hickory. Young Hickory, as Polk was sometimes called, had a fascinating journey to the presidency and made the most of it once he assumed office.

Read this if you know nothing about Polk

I have spent most of my time reading about the founding, the Founders, etc and recently ventured out of that category. Saw this title and figured why not learn about a period through the biography of a president I am not familiar with. This period is eye opening both because it completes our expansion but also sets the stage for the worst period in US History.