President James K. Polk, often overlooked yet ever-consequential,
comes to life in this "compelling, perceptive portrait" (The Wall
Street Journal) biography of the 11th President of the United States,
Andrew Jackson protégé, and champion of "manifest destiny."
In a one-term presidency, James K. Polk completed the story of America's
Manifest Destiny--extending its territory across the continent by
threatening England with war and manufacturing a controversial and
unpopular two-year war with Mexico. "A crucial architect of modern
America, James K. Polk deserves to be elevated out of the mists of
history" (Jon Meacham, author of American Lion).