Post Scripts: Presidents Tyler and Polk

Reading on in my book Presidential Anecdotes, I learned more about early presidents that weren’t too well known, at least not to me. The 10th president, John Tyler, was the vice-president for William Henry Harrison who lived only a few months after he took office in 1841. According to the story, Tyler was at his home in Virginia playing marbles with his boys when he heard of Harrison’s death. Fletcher Webster, son of Secretary of State, Daniel Webster, rode up in hot haste and dismounted. "Mr. President," exclaimed young Webster, "I have been instructed by the Secretary of State to deliver these dispatches to you without delay." Taylor glanced at the papers and exclaimed, "My God, The president is dead." "Yes Sir, and the nation is in mourning." He hastily went into the house and made arrangements to go to Washington.

Not everyone believed that Tyler, the first vice- president to become president upon the death of the incumbent, had succeeded in the prerogatives of a Chief Executive under the Constitution. In the House of Representatives, a resolution stipulating that Tyler’s title should be "acting president" but it was defeated. Some congressmen continued to look on him only as an "acting" president. Tyler, however, claimed all rights and privileges of the Chief Executive and the precedent he set has been followed by every vice-president since. The Whigs Party nominated Harrison and also Tyler, but Tyler didn’t agree with all their policies and vetoed all the bills of the Whig party in Congress. Before long all of his cabinet had resigned except Secretary of State, Daniel Webster, who asked to remain.

His first wife, Letitia, died in 1842 and in 1844 he married Julia, 30 years younger than he was. There was a lot of discussion about the age difference but he proved to be quite a man and they had seven children. He had more children by his two wives than any other president.

James Polk, president from 1845-49, was a "dark horse." A deadlock between ex-President Martin Van Buren and Lewis Cass of Michigan led delegates to turn to Polk on the ninth ballot. He wasn’t exactly unknown as he had been in congress seven terms and Governor of Tennessee. But he had no personal followers and was lacking in personal charm. "Who is James Polk?" exclaimed the Whig party nominee, Henry Clay, sarcastically. His question quickly became a slogan and during the campaign the Whigs went around crying "Whose James Polk?" It looked like he had very little chance to win but in the close election in which the tiny anti-slavery Liberty Party drew votes away from the Whigs, Polk became the 11th president. He may have been a little man known as "Napoleon of the stump," but he was big with plans for territorial expansion. Many Americans thought it was time for them to take control of more territory in North America. When he left office the United States was half again as large as it as when he became president. Polk was not a popular president though he literally worked himself to death in the White House and achieved most all of his goals.

Polk opposed banks and paper currency and favored the exclusive use of gold and silver as a circulating medium. His wife, Sarah, was opposed to this and said that a lady couldn’t carry much money because of the weight. When Polk became president, due to Sarah’s religious beliefs, social activities in the White House changed. Receptions called cheerless affairs, were held two days a week with no refreshments and not on Sundays. Sam Houston said that Polk’s main trouble was he drank too much water. Polk died in 1849, three months after retiring to their home in Nashville, Tenn.

Another time I’ll tell you about the next presidents, Taylor and Filmore, if you aren’t too bored hearing about those who served our country long ago.