- In office since
- March 4, 1845
- Left office
- March 4, 1849
- Born
- November 2, 1795
- Died
- June 15, 1849
- Religion
- Methodism[2]
Life phases1
One octagon for each phase of the life of James K. Polk. Each of the eight axes is scored 0 to 5 against a written rubric from documented evidence, with its source; an axis without evidence is a gap, not a zero. There is no total and no ideal shape: it is a profile, not a ranking. Appearance and personality are not axes, because they cannot be scored from evidence.
No total and no ideal shape: a longer spoke means more of that axis, so a long Misconduct spoke is more documented misconduct.
Scores, rubric and sources
- 01Education3 of 5
- High confidenceGraduated from the University of North Carolina (AB, with honors, 1818), then studied law under Felix Grundy and was admitted to the Tennessee bar in June 1820.[1]Highest attainment by then: 1 secondary school, 2 some college, 3 bachelor's degree, 4 master's or professional degree, 5 doctorate.
- 02WealthNo evidence
- Net worth or income against the national thresholds of the time: 1 below the median household, 3 top 5%, 5 top 0.1%.
- 03Position5 of 5
- High confidencePresident of the United States, 1845-1849.[3]Scope of the role held: 1 entry level, 3 senior manager or legislator, 5 head of state or government, or the top role of a major institution.
- 04Public standingNo evidence
- Public approval or favourability where it was measured: 1 under 20%, 3 35 to 50%, 5 over 65%.
- 05HealthNo evidence
- Documented health where an examination or disclosure exists: 5 no documented concern, 1 a serious documented condition.
- 06MisconductNo evidence
- The documented legal and ethics record within the phase, as in the misconduct meter: 0 none documented, 1 only matters resolved in their favour, 2 an open matter, 3 one finding, 4 two or three, 5 four or more. More is more documented misconduct.
- 07Social good1.5 of 5
- Low confidenceMexican-American War killed nearly 14,000 Americans and 25,000 Mexicans; the Mexican Cession (600,000 sq mi) reopened the fight over slavery's extension (Wilmot Proviso); the Oregon dispute was settled by treaty without war. Judgement-heavy.[3]Assessed effects of what they did in the phase on health, safety, education, rights and the environment, from official statistics or peer-reviewed evidence: 0 clearly harmful, 2.5 mixed, 5 clearly beneficial.
- 08Economic good3 of 5
- Low confidenceWalker Tariff of 1846 substantially reduced rates and lasted until 1857; Independent Treasury Act (Aug 6, 1846) lasted until 1913; the war cost roughly $100M. The source gives no revenue or growth figures.[3]Assessed effects of what they did in the phase on efficiency, growth and fiscal sustainability, from CBO and peer-reviewed evidence, as in the good-for-society reading: 0 clearly harmful, 2.5 mixed, 5 clearly beneficial.
No sourced record has been added for James K. Polk yet.
Sources3
Every statement about James K. Polk on this page comes from the wiki behind it, which cites each fact to the numbered source it was read from. Read the wiki
- [1]
Health, weight and religion appear only where the person, their physician or a reputable outlet has published them; each links to its source.