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Polk : the man who transformed the presidency and America  Cover Image Book Book

Polk : the man who transformed the presidency and America / Walter R. Borneman.

Summary:

The first complete biography of a president often overshadowed in image but seldom outdone in accomplishment. James K. Polk's pledge to serve a single term, which many thought would make him a lame duck, enabled him to rise above electoral politics and to outflank his adversaries. Thus he plotted and attained a formidable agenda: He fought for and won tariff reductions, reestablished an independent Treasury, and most notably, brought Texas into the Union, bluffed Great Britain out of the lion's share of Oregon, and wrested California and much of the Southwest from Mexico. In tracing Polk's life and career, author Borneman dispels conventional views of Polk as an accidental president. Instead, we see Polk as he was--a decisive, if not partisan, statesman whose near doubling of America's boundaries and expansive broadening of executive powers redefined the country at large, as well as the nature of its highest office.--From publisher description.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780812976748
  • ISBN: 0812976746
  • Physical Description: xxiii, 422 pages : illustrations, maps ; 21 cm
  • Edition: 2009 Random House trade paperback edition.
  • Publisher: New York : Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2009.

Content descriptions

General Note:
Originally published: New York : Random House, 2008.
Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 396-404) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
I. The man -- Old Hickory's boy -- Carrying the water -- Tennessee and Old Tippecanoe -- The last defeat -- Hands off Texas -- A summons from Old Hickory -- Baltimore, 1844 -- "Who is James K. Polk?" -- II. The conquest -- Making good on Texas -- Standing firm on Oregon -- Eyeing California -- Mission to Mexico -- "American blood upon American soil" -- 54'40' compromise! -- To Santa Fe and beyond -- Mr. Polk's war -- Old Bullion's son-in-law -- A president on the spot -- Securing the spoils -- The Whigs find another General -- Homeward bound -- A Presidential assessment.
Subject: Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849.
Presidents > United States > Biography.
Politics and government
United States > Politics and government > 1845-1849.
Genre: History
Nonfiction
Biographies.

Available copies

  • 1 of 1 copy available at scottsboropl.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
scottsboropl 973.6 Bor 32269001261687 Adult - Nonfiction Available -

LDR 03900cam a2200541 i 4500
001164363
003SBPL
00520240910105057.0
008090806t20092008nyuab b 001 0beng
010 . ‡a 2009455557
020 . ‡a9780812976748 ‡q(paperback)
020 . ‡a0812976746 ‡q(paperback)
035 . ‡a(OCoLC)429752663
05000. ‡aE417 ‡b.B67 2009
08200. ‡a973.6/1092 ‡aB ‡222
1001 . ‡aBorneman, Walter R., ‡d1952-: ‡eauthor.
24510. ‡aPolk : ‡bthe man who transformed the presidency and America / ‡cWalter R. Borneman.
250 . ‡a2009 Random House trade paperback edition.
264 1. ‡aNew York : ‡bRandom House Trade Paperbacks, ‡c2009.
300 . ‡axxiii, 422 pages : ‡billustrations, maps ; ‡c21 cm
336 . ‡atext ‡btxt ‡2rdacontent
337 . ‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia
338 . ‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier
500 . ‡aOriginally published: New York : Random House, 2008.
504 . ‡aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 396-404) and index.
50500. ‡gI. ‡tThe man -- ‡tOld Hickory's boy -- ‡tCarrying the water -- ‡tTennessee and Old Tippecanoe -- ‡tThe last defeat -- ‡tHands off Texas -- ‡tA summons from Old Hickory -- ‡tBaltimore, 1844 -- ‡t"Who is James K. Polk?" -- ‡gII. ‡tThe conquest -- ‡tMaking good on Texas -- ‡tStanding firm on Oregon -- ‡tEyeing California -- ‡tMission to Mexico -- ‡t"American blood upon American soil" -- ‡t54'40' compromise! -- ‡tTo Santa Fe and beyond -- ‡tMr. Polk's war -- ‡tOld Bullion's son-in-law -- ‡tA president on the spot -- ‡tSecuring the spoils -- ‡tThe Whigs find another General -- ‡tHomeward bound -- ‡tA Presidential assessment.
520 . ‡aThe first complete biography of a president often overshadowed in image but seldom outdone in accomplishment. James K. Polk's pledge to serve a single term, which many thought would make him a lame duck, enabled him to rise above electoral politics and to outflank his adversaries. Thus he plotted and attained a formidable agenda: He fought for and won tariff reductions, reestablished an independent Treasury, and most notably, brought Texas into the Union, bluffed Great Britain out of the lion's share of Oregon, and wrested California and much of the Southwest from Mexico. In tracing Polk's life and career, author Borneman dispels conventional views of Polk as an accidental president. Instead, we see Polk as he was--a decisive, if not partisan, statesman whose near doubling of America's boundaries and expansive broadening of executive powers redefined the country at large, as well as the nature of its highest office.--From publisher description.
60010. ‡aPolk, James K. ‡q(James Knox), ‡d1795-1849.
650 0. ‡aPresidents ‡zUnited States ‡vBiography.
650 0. ‡aPolitics and government ‡2fast ‡0(OCoLC)fst01919741
651 0. ‡aUnited States ‡xPolitics and government ‡y1845-1849.
655 7. ‡aHistory
655 7. ‡aNonfiction
655 7. ‡aBiographies. ‡2lcgft
901 . ‡a164363 ‡bAUTOGEN ‡c164363 ‡tbiblio

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