Customer Reviews

Polk: The Diary of a President 1845-1849

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I've spent most of my adult life living in Oregon and California, two regions which wouldn't have been part of the United States if it hadn't been for James K. Polk. So I thought it might be interesting to read his diary, to get the story of how this sort of thing is done.

The vast territories which were added during his reign doubled size doubled the size of the United States and truely made it go "from sea to shining sea" as the song says.

When Polk ran for president, he said that he'd do 4 things:

1. Get Oregon from England
2. Get California, Nevada, etc, from Mexico
3. Reduce tarrifs
4. Eliminate the bank of the U.S.

What a to-do list!! But just as he predicted, he did exactly that, risking war with England and waging war with Mexico. And it only took him 1 term of 4 years to do it.

If you want to read about somebody who really set himself stretch goals and then went on to accomplish them, there's no better book.

P.S. I'd also recommend the song about James K. Polk written by "They Might Be Giants" as additional background info :-)

It is impossible to grade a diary and thus the above grade is not my grade for the diary.

It is rather the grade I am giving to Allan Nevins for his editing of the book.

Nevins ably rides the fine line between babying the reader and guiding him. In his quirps, Nevins informs us of the truth from Polk's biases, what Polk doesn't know, and what Polk does not decide to tell us. Nevins doesn't go into such great depth as to bore us. Instead, he gives a general overview at the beginning of the book for those who are less knowledgable about the Polk administration. Nevins keeps us informed without making us feel stupid or annoyed.

As well, Nevins does not bring himself into the diary. He forms no thesis nor any opinion throughout the diary, only stating Polk's commonly known flaws and praising his commonly known accomplishments. He tells how Polk was unfair to his generals, but his input only helps make that more clearer to the reade.

Overall, Nevins did a great job editing this diary and helping portray this strong albeit cold president. It is worth the read for any antebellum U.S. history fan or anyone interested in reading the words of a president from when he was in office.