Western American Guilt & President Polk
My Dad has been on a genealogy kick the last few years, trying his best to trace his family tree back as far as possible. He has a particular interest in whether we are (likely) related in some way to our nation's 11th president, James K. Polk. This question admittedly holds great interest for me, although I think I take a dimmer view of Polk's presidency than my Dad does. Even his critics admit that Polk was certainly one of the most accomplished presidents. He campaigned on four large goals : cut tariffs, reestablish an independent U.S. Treasury, secure the Oregon Territory (from the Brits) and acquire the territories of (Alta) California and New Mexico from Mexico. He did all this, along with annexing Texas, in just one term as planned, indelibly and massively changing the United States forever. He promised to be a one term president and kept this promise, working himself to death in the White House. They say the presidency ages the office holder at an advanced rate,...