John Seigenthaler's
James K. Polk tells the story of a pivotal president who watched over our westward expansion and solidified the dream of Jacksonian democracy. Polk was a shrewd and decisive commander-in-chief, the youngest president elected to guide the still-young nation, who served as Speaker of the House and governor of Tennessee before taking office in 1845. Considered a natural successor to Andrew Jackson, "Young Hickory" miraculously revived his floundering political career by riding a wave of public sentiment in favor of annexing the Republic of Texas to the Union. (Broadcast Date: January 18, 2004)
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