Presidential Chronicles

Zachary Taylor #9: To the White House (1848-1849); Topics covered include: President-elect of the United States, wrapped up personal affairs, Inaugural Address, Cabinet, focus on governance and slavery in acquired territories, foreign affairs, and the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty Key people: Peggy Taylor, Betty Taylor, William Bliss, John Crittenden, John Clayton, Thomas Ewing, and T. Butler King For mor...

Zachary Taylor #8: Unlikeliest Elected President … Ever (1847-1848); Topics covered include: Hero's welcome in New Orleans, conflict with Polk administration, embraced by Whigs as presidential candidate, Wilmot Proviso, marriage of daughter Betty to William Bliss, Allison Letter, "A Whig but not Ultra Whig," desires to be national candidate, receives Whig nomination, second Allison L...

Zachary Taylor #7: Had Enough (1846-1847); Topics covered include: Mexican War, conflict with President James Polk, forces reassigned to General Winfield Scott, relationship with troops, Battle of Buena Vista, and receives 6-month leave of absence (role in war is over) Key people: James Polk, Winfield Scott, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, William Bliss, and Jefferson Davis For more information on th...

Zachary Taylor #6: Clash with the President (1846); Topics covered include: Mexican War, frustration over supplies and transportation, Battle of Monterrey, armistice and controversy, and conflict with President James Polk Key people: Jefferson Davis, Pedro de Ampudia, William Worth, and James Polk For more information on the "Presidential Chronicles" series, please visit https://www.pres...

Zachary Taylor #5: National Spotlight (1846); Topics covered include: Mexican War; Battle of Palo Alto, Battle of Resaca de la Palma, relationship with men under his command, celebrated as hero, considered as presidential candidate, and his rejection of that consideration Key people: Mariana Arista, Ulysses Grant, Thurlow Weed, and Robert Wood For more information on the "Presidential Chronic...

Zachary Taylor #4: Army of Occupation (1844-1846); Topics covered include: Texas annexation, assigned to Fort Jessup, ordered into disputed territory, blockades Rio Grande near Matamoros, Mexican protests, Mexicans cross the Rio Grande and attack, and President Polk requests (and receives) declaration of war against Mexico Key people: Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, James Polk, John...

Zachary Taylor #3: Earning His Star (1835-1840); Topics covered include: Presidency of Andrew Jackson, Indian Removal Act, Seminole War, Osceola captured, Battle of Lake Okeechobee, Taylor hailed as hero, promotion to Brigadier General (brevet), nickname "Old Rough and Ready," William Bliss as aide, and his plantations in Baton Rouge Key people: Andrew Jackson, Osceola, Thomas Jessup, Jo...

Zachary Taylor #2: Military Travels (1815-1835); Topics covered include: Birth of four more children, nomadic military life, daughters Octavia and Margaret become ill and die, Monroe Doctrine, Black Hawk War, personality and attire, daughter Sarah marries Jefferson Davis, and the death of Sarah (malaria) Key people: Peggy Taylor, Octavia Taylor, Margaret Taylor, Betty Taylor, Dick Taylor, Andrew J...

Zachary Taylor #1: First Battle (1784-1815); Topics covered include: Family lineage, parents, youth in Kentucky, limited education, enlists in the army, moves from post to post, marries Margaret ("Peggy") Smith, birth of children, War of 1812, defense of Fort Harrison, end of the war, and retires from the military Key people: Richard Taylor, Sarah (Strother) Taylor, Margaret ("Peggy...

James Polk #10: He Gave His All (1848-1849); Topics covered include: Election of 1848, sticks with one-term pledge, election of Zachary Taylor, Polk criticism of Taylor, debates about slavery expansion in the Mexican Cession, health deteriorates quickly after leaving presidency, moves into "Polk Place," accepts the Church, dies 102 days after end of term, and perspective Key people: Lewi...

James Polk #9: The Politics of Manifest Destiny (1846-1848); Topics covered include: Mexican War, conflict with commanding generals, criticized by Whigs over start of war, Spot Resolutions, Wilmot Proviso, conflict with negotiator Nicholas Trist, micromanager, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Manifest Destiny and the land acquisition by the Polk administration, and reflections on the Mexican War Key p...

James Polk #8: Military Success (1846-1847); Topics covered include: Mexican War; Battles covered: Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, New Mexico, California, Monterrey, Veracruz, Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec; role as Commander-in-Chief; conflict with commanding generals (Taylor and Scott); and victory Key people: Zachary Taylor, Winfield Scott, Stephen Kearney, Robe...

James Polk #7: Bating War (1845-1846); Topics covered include: Manifest Destiny, Texas annexation, pursues land acquisition from Mexico and is thwarted, orders U.S. military into disputed territory south of Texas, standoff at the Rio Grande, Mexico crosses and attacks, and Polk requests (and receives) declaration of war against Mexico Key people: Martin Van Buren, Zachary Taylor, David Conner, Joh...

James Polk #6: 3-for-3 (1845-1846); Topics covered include: Bold agenda, settles boundary dispute with England in the Oregon Territory, establishes Sub-Treasury ("Constitutional Treasury"), lowers tariff and changes to ad valorem model, and opposes federally-funded internal improvements Key people: James Buchanan, Robert Walker, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, Andrew Jackson, and Thomas Je...

James Polk #5: Cabinet Controversies and Aggressive Agenda (1844-1845); Topics covered include: President-elect of the United States, Cabinet selections (and controversies), Texas annexation, bold agenda, Manifest Destiny, mourns death of Andrew Jackson, micromanager, and Sarah Polk as First Lady Key people: Andrew Jackson, Cave Johnson, John Tyler, James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren, Silas Wright,...

James Polk #4: Dark Horse (1844); Topics covered include: Election of 1844, Texas annexation, receives Democratic nomination as a "Dark Horse" candidate, overcomes electoral obstacles, gives one term pledge, Kane Letter, and wins election to the presidency Key people: Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, Andrew Jackson, Cave Johnson, Gideon Pillow, Lewis Cass, Henry Carroll, George Bancroft, Silas Wright...

James Polk #3: Ups and Downs in Tennessee (1838-1843); Topics covered include: Speaker of the House, runs for Governor of Tennessee and wins, workaholic, and loses next two races for Governor Key people: William Carroll, Newton Cannon, Jeremiah Harris, Martin Van Buren, Richard Johnson, James "Lean Jimmy" Jones, Sarah Polk, and Marshall Polk For more information on the "Presidential...

James Polk #2: Jackson's Speaker (1825-1836); Topics covered include: Congressman, supporter of Andrew Jackson, opposes John Quincy Adams administration, death of father, views on slavery, election of 1828, House Ways & Means Committee (member and chair), Nullification Crisis, Speaker of the House, and the Gag Rule Key people: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Sarah Polk, Sam Polk, Gulian Ver...

James Polk #1: Getting Started (1795-1825); Topics covered include: Parents, sickly childhood, attends University of North Carolina, legal training, clerk for the Tennessee Senate, establishes own law practice, elected state Senate, Jeffersonian ideology, early relationship with Andrew Jackson, marries Sarah Childress, and is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives Key people: Sam Polk, Jenny...

John Tyler #10: Presidential Succession - Presidential Secession (1844-1862); Topics covered include: Election of 1844, Andrew Jackson convinces Tyler not to run, election of James Polk, return to private life at "Sherwood Forest," has seven children with second wife (Julia) after eight with his first wife (Letitia), Board of Visitors and Chancellor at the College of William and Mary, po...

John Tyler #9: Explosion, Marriage, and Texas (1842-1845); Topics covered include: President of the United States, marriage of daughter (Elizabeth) to William Waller, death of Letitia Tyler, "Peacemaker" explosion, marriage to Julia Gardner, and the acquisition of Texas Key people: Elizabeth Tyler, William Waller, Letitia Tyler, Robert Stockton, David Gilmer, Abel Upshur, David Gardner,...

John Tyler #8: Foreign Policy Success (1842-1844); Topics covered include: President of the United States, foreign policy, Webster-Ashburton Treaty, relations with the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) and the Tyler Doctrine, and relations with China and an economic treaty Key people: Martin Van Buren, Daniel Webster, Alexander Baring (Lord Ashburton), Tioteo Haalilio, William Richards, and Caleb Cushing...

John Tyler #7: Presidential Obstruction, or Doing Duty (1841-1842); Topics covered include: President of the United States, issues more vetoes on economic policies, Congress investigates Tyler, at odds with Senate over nominees, at offs with Congress over Executive Privilege, and the Dorr Rebellion Key people: Martin Van Buren, John Quincy Adams, Caleb Cushing, John Spender, Thomas Dorr, and Samue...

John Tyler #6: Man Without a Party (1841); Topics covered include: President of the United States, at odds with Congressional Whigs, vetoes Bank legislation (twice), Cabinet resigns (except Daniel Webster), is kicked out of the Whig Party by members of Congress, and commentary on ideological consistency Key people: Henry Clay, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Ewing, and Daniel Webster For more information...

John Tyler #5: Accidental President (1841); Topics covered include: Notified of death of President William Henry Harrison, takes oath as President, gives Inaugural Address, dismisses notions of being an "Acting President," retains Harrison's Cabinet, joined by family, Letitia Tyler suffers stroke, and repeals the Sub-Treasury statute Key people: Fletcher Webster, John Quincy Adams, W...