Category Archives: James K. Polk

The Presidents and the Exes: Part I

Ex-Presidents in General: The Early Fellows It’s lonely at the top. Just about every President has said so. Most come with their own agendas and plans, and all will quickly learn that they can go awry quickly. Some wonderful intentions can … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, George Washington, James Buchanan, James K. Polk, James Madison, James Monroe, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

James Buchanan: The Successful Failure

The Stellar Resume James Buchanan (1791-1867), a Pennsylvanian from mid-state, was the last President born in the 18th century. His family was large, but he was essentially a brother among a slew of sisters.  Blessed with above average academic gifts, … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Andrew Jackson, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, James K. Polk, Nifty History People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Millard Fillmore: The Insecure Politician

  Millard Fillmore, 14th President, had little illusion about his own capabilities. The Struggling Farm Boy Millard Fillmore (1800-74) was the son of a minister-farmer, living not far from Buffalo, NY. Ministers are seldom rich, and farming is iffy at … Continue reading

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Zachary Taylor: For Want of a Stamp

Zachary Taylor was arguably the most reluctant of our Presidents. ZT: A Brief Run-Up Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) was born in Virginia, but grew up near Louisville, when Kentucky was still part of Virginia. His family was relatively prosperous, but young … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, James K. Polk, Nifty History People, Zachary Taylor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Zachary Taylor: Surprisingly Electable

  ZT: A Brief Background Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) was born to a fine old Virginia family, but the rugged individual type. They moved to the western part of Kentucky when Zachary was still a boy. Independence and ruggedness was a … Continue reading

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The Great White Jail

“The White House is the finest prison in the world.” Harry S Truman. The White House Paradox The White House, or the Executive Mansion, is undoubtedly the finest residence the country has to offer the President of the United States, … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Abraham Lincoln, Calvin Coolidge, Chester Arthur, George Washington, Grover Cleveland, Harry S Truman, James Buchanan, James K. Polk, James Monroe, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Nifty History People, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses S. Grant, William Howard Taft | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Grant, Buckner and the Pillow Flight

Gideon Pillow was first and foremost a “political” general of massive pretensions. The Stuffed Pillow Gideon Pillow (1806-78) was born and raised to a prosperous and well-connected Tennessee family. He attended the University of Nashville, became an attorney, and went … Continue reading

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G.P.A. Healy and the Portraits of Presidents

The Young Artist George Peter Alexander (usually known as G.P.A.) Healy was definitely born poor in 1813 to Irish immigrants in Boston. A bit late to his calling, he was sixteen when he first picked up a brush, but the … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Chester Arthur, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, James K. Polk, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore, Ulysses S. Grant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Three Forgotten FIRST LADIES

Following Dolley Madison, there was a big gap in the role of the First Lady Elizabeth Monroe was a reclusive woman by nature, and her grown daughter was a snobbish substitute. Louisa Adams was in chronic poor health; her husband … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Franklin Pierce, James K. Polk, James Monroe, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Zachary Taylor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

James Knox Polk’s Delicate Operation

In the early 19th century, any surgery was always dangerous. Young Polk Born in 1795 in North Carolina, James Knox Polk was the oldest of ten children born to a middle-class North Carolina family. They moved to Tennessee when Polk … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, James K. Polk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments