James K. Polk Quotes
With me it is exceptionally true that the Presidency is no bed of roses.
Before Theodore Roosevelt, American Presidential Candidates had to pretend that they did not seek the presidency and remain passive. However Roosevelt changed that norm and the primary elections, taking the nomination away from a few party leaders, further required Presidential aspirants to campaign. The principle Lomdes articulated was that if called upon, one was obligated to serve, but should not overtly seek the position and wait to be called by the people.
During the last days of the 1912 "Bull Moose" campaign, President Taft's running mate, Taft’s Vice President James S. Sherman, died just before election day. Nicholas Butler was asked to take his place on the Republican ballot; he agreed with this famous condition. The election was won by Democrat Woodrow Wilson and Butler was off the hook.
James Knox Polk was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. He previously was Speaker of the House of Representatives (1835–1839) and Governor of Tennessee (1839–1841). A protégé of Andrew Jackson, he was a member of the Democratic Party and an advocate of Jacksonian democracy. Polk is chiefly known for extending the territory of the United States through the Mexican–American War; during his presidency, the United States expanded significantly with the annexation of the Republic of Texas, the Oregon Territory, and the Mexican Cession following the American victory in the Mexican–American War.
