Polk, Walter R. Borneman
Polk, Walter R. Borneman
8 Rating(s)
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Polk
The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America

Author: Walter R. Borneman

Narrator: Alan Nebelthau

Unabridged: 13 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 05/09/2008

Synopsis

Tennessee Democrat James K. Polk is generally ranked among the nation's most effective chief executives. In this straightforward, unnuanced biography, Borneman (1812: The War That Forged a Nation) relates why. Coming into office determined to annex Texas, gain the Oregon Territory from Britain, lower the tariff and reform the national banking system, Polk achieved all four aims in his single term in office (1845-1849). But Borneman overlooks that in more or less completing the nation's lower continental territory, Polk bequeathed a fateful legacy to the nation-not so much transforming the U.S. (as the subtitle overstates) as setting it on the road to civil war. With the annexation of Texas came war with Mexico, which stripped that nation of half its lands while gaining the U.S. the southwest and California. It also unloosed the mad genie of slavery's possible further spread westward. Polk left the nation larger but politically crippled and morally weakened. But Borneman sticks to the narrative and doesn't place his subject in a larger historical context. 'Tis a pity, for Polk's administration ought to be a lesson to all candidates and all presidents at all times

About Walter R. Borneman

Walter R. Borneman is the author of nine works of nonfiction, including MacArthur at War, The Admirals, Polk, and The French and Indian War. He holds both a master's degree in history and a law degree. He lives in Colorado.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jim on January 21, 2020

Really enjoyed this book, and I learned a lot about a period of time I really didn't know anything about. This book focuses mostly on Polk's presidency - he's out of the House of Representatives by page 40 and has completed his term as governor of Tennessee by page 51 - but I really like how he put i......more

Goodreads review by Jeremy on March 11, 2012

As a presidential history buff, I often get asked who I thought was the greatest president, and not wanting to bring up the usual suspects (Washington, Lincoln, FDR, etc.) I would calmly say `James K. Polk.' There were two reasons for this, one, I wanted to say something that would shock them; and,......more

Goodreads review by Steve on January 12, 2014

[URL not allowed] “Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America” is the fifth of ten books by historian and lawyer (and mountaineer!) Walter Borneman. He is more frequently the author of books on 18th and 19th century US history, but has also written on mountain cli......more

Goodreads review by Tim on January 28, 2024

I read A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, The Mexican War, and the Conquest of the American Continent by Robert W. Merry and Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter R. Borneman at the same time, alternating chapters. I posted a combined review here, under the Merry b......more

Goodreads review by David on June 14, 2022

I am now on presidential biography #11. James K. Polk followed John Tyler and preceded Zachary Taylor, and if all three of them are just names you barely remember from U.S. history, you're not alone. Borneman begins and ends this biography of the 11th president by arguing that Polk was in fact one of......more

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