Editing James K. Polk (section)

=== Transition, inauguration and appointments ===
{{further|Inauguration of James K. Polk}}Polk formed a geographically balanced Cabinet.<ref name=Merry112113>Merry, pp. 112–113</ref> He consulted Jackson and one or two other close allies, and decided that the large states of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia should have representation in the six-member Cabinet, as should his home state of Tennessee. At a time when an incoming president might retain some or all of his predecessor's department heads, Polk wanted an entirely fresh Cabinet, but this proved delicate. Tyler's final Secretary of State was Calhoun, leader of a considerable faction of the Democratic Party, but, when approached by emissaries, he did not take offense and was willing to step down.<ref name="bergeron2325" />

Polk did not want his Cabinet to contain presidential hopefuls, though he chose to nominate [[James Buchanan]] of Pennsylvania, whose ambition for the presidency was well-known, as Secretary of State.<ref name=Merry114117>Merry, pp. 114–117</ref> Tennessee's [[Cave Johnson]], a close friend and ally of Polk, was nominated for the position of Postmaster General, with George Bancroft, the historian who had played a crucial role in Polk's nomination, as Navy Secretary.  Polk's choices met with the approval of Andrew Jackson, with whom Polk met for the last time in January 1845, as Jackson died that June.<ref name=Merry117119>Merry, pp. 117–119</ref>

Tyler's last Navy Secretary, [[John Y. Mason]] of Virginia, Polk's friend since college days and a longtime political ally, was not on the original list. As Cabinet choices were affected by factional politics and President Tyler's drive to resolve the Texas issue before leaving office, Polk at the last minute chose Mason as Attorney General.<ref name ="bergeron2325">Bergeron, pp. 23–25</ref> Polk also chose Mississippi Senator Walker as Secretary of the Treasury and New York's [[William Marcy]] as Secretary of War. The members worked well together, and few replacements were necessary. One reshuffle was required in 1846 when Bancroft, who wanted a diplomatic posting, became [[United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom|U.S. minister to Britain]].<ref>Bergeron, pp. 29–30</ref>

In his last days in office, President Tyler sought to complete the annexation of Texas. After the Senate had defeated an earlier treaty that required a two-thirds majority, Tyler urged Congress to pass a joint resolution, relying on its constitutional power to admit states.<ref name=Merry120124>Merry, pp. 120–124</ref> There were disagreements about the terms under which Texas would be admitted and Polk became involved in negotiations to break the impasse. With Polk's help, the annexation resolution narrowly cleared the Senate.<ref name=Merry120124/> Tyler was unsure whether to sign the resolution or leave it for Polk and sent Calhoun to consult with Polk, who declined to give any advice. On his final evening in office, March 3, 1845, Tyler offered annexation to Texas according to the terms of the resolution.<ref>Woodworth, p. 140</ref>

<!-- linked from redirects [[Polk Administration]], [[Presidency of James K. Polk]] -->
[[File:Polk inauguration Oath London News (edit).jpg|thumb|left|alt=Woodcut of Polk taking the oath on the East Portico of the Capitol, with a crowd of people looking on.|The inauguration of James K. Polk, as shown in the ''Illustrated London News'', v. 6, April 19, 1845]]

Even before his inauguration, Polk wrote to Cave Johnson, "I intend to be {{em|myself}} President of the U.S."<ref>Greenberg, p. 69</ref> He would gain a reputation as a hard worker, spending ten to twelve hours at his desk, and rarely leaving Washington. Polk wrote, "No President who performs his duty faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure. I prefer to supervise the whole operations of the government myself rather than intrust the public business to subordinates, and this makes my duties very great."<ref name = "a" /> When he took office on March 4, 1845, Polk, at 49, became the [[List of presidents of the United States by age|youngest president]] to that point. Polk's inauguration was the first [[United States presidential inauguration|inaugural ceremony]] to be reported by telegraph, and first to be shown in a newspaper illustration (in ''[[The Illustrated London News]]'').<ref>{{cite web|title=President James Knox Polk, 1845 |url=http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/chronology/jkpolk1845.cfm |publisher=Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies |access-date=January 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120211409/http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/chronology/jkpolk1845.cfm |archive-date=January 20, 2009 }}</ref>

In his inaugural address, delivered in a steady rain, Polk made clear his support for Texas annexation by referring to the 28 states of the U.S., thus including Texas. He proclaimed his fidelity to Jackson's principles by quoting his famous toast, "Every lover of his country must shudder at the thought of the possibility of its dissolution and will be ready to adopt the patriotic sentiment, 'Our Federal Union—it must be preserved.'"<ref>Borneman, p. 141</ref> He stated his opposition to a national bank, and repeated that the tariff could include incidental protection. Although he did not mention slavery specifically, he alluded to it, decrying those who would tear down an institution protected by the Constitution.<ref>Borneman, pp. 141–142</ref>

Polk devoted the second half of his speech to foreign affairs, and specifically to expansion. He applauded the annexation of Texas, warning that Texas was no affair of any other nation, and certainly none of Mexico's. He spoke of the Oregon Country, and of the many who were migrating, pledging to safeguard America's rights there and to protect the settlers.<ref>Borneman, pp. 142–143</ref>

As well as appointing Cabinet officers to advise him, Polk made his sister's son, [[Joseph Knox Walker|J. Knox Walker]], his [[Secretary to the President of the United States|personal secretary]], an especially important position because, other than his slaves, Polk had no staff at the White House. Walker, who lived at the White House with his growing family (two children were born to him while living there), performed his duties competently through his uncle's presidency. Other Polk relatives visited at the White House, some for extended periods.<ref>Bergeron, pp. 230–232</ref>

[[File:State-dining-room-polk-cabinet.jpg|thumb|Polk and his cabinet in the White House dining room, 1846. Front row, left to right: [[John Y. Mason]], [[William L. Marcy]], James K. Polk, [[Robert J. Walker]]. Back row, left to right: [[Cave Johnson]], [[George Bancroft]]. Secretary of State [[James Buchanan]] is absent. This was the first photograph taken in the White House, and the first of a presidential Cabinet.<ref>Greenberg, p. 70</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=James Polk's cabinet |url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/james-polks-cabinet |website=WHHA (en-US) |access-date=February 4, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>]]