Imagine an alternate universe where Mexico was wishing to join NATO. The U.S. would have been sanctioned and world opinion would have been pro-Mexico and anti-Polk. Sound like Putin and Russia vis-a-vis Ukraine?
Interesting that Polk remains relatively unappreciated considering the territorial achievements. He was ranked near the top ten of Presidents at the turn of the century and now has slipped to around 20. The C-Span poll dings him hard on "moral authority" and "equal Justice for all." Audible has only a few books about him. But "A Country of Vast Designs" by Robert Merry is included with membership. I'll have to give that a listen.
I just read the book. It was very good. I’d give Polk pretty high marks as president, but he also seemed pretty lucky. There were many points where things could have turned out much worse.
As always, enjoy the historical newsletters.
Poor Abe Lincoln- pestering Polk over an illegal war. By the time his single term was up, patriotic fervor over the victory ran him out of office.
Imagine an alternate universe where Mexico was wishing to join NATO. The U.S. would have been sanctioned and world opinion would have been pro-Mexico and anti-Polk. Sound like Putin and Russia vis-a-vis Ukraine?
Interesting that Polk remains relatively unappreciated considering the territorial achievements. He was ranked near the top ten of Presidents at the turn of the century and now has slipped to around 20. The C-Span poll dings him hard on "moral authority" and "equal Justice for all." Audible has only a few books about him. But "A Country of Vast Designs" by Robert Merry is included with membership. I'll have to give that a listen.
I just read the book. It was very good. I’d give Polk pretty high marks as president, but he also seemed pretty lucky. There were many points where things could have turned out much worse.