The Polk

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Portrait done by Thomas Sully (1783-1872); Oil on Canvas; 44"x33-3/4" (112x86 cm); Restored 1943; Part of Dialectic Society Collection located in Di Hall

James Knox Polk: Portrait and Biography

This section is excerpted from The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies Portraits: an Honors Essay by Joseph K. L. Reckford (1981). Sources for this information can be found within the essay itself along with more information on other Societal portraits and alumni.

Born November 2nd, 1795, in Mecklenburg, Colorado, James Knox Polk is one of the most infamous politicians to have grown up in North Carolina and attended UNC Chapel Hill. After a brief stay in Tennessee, Polk would move to North Carolina in 1815 to attend college at UNC. He was quite the gifted student, having been placed into the Sophomore class and graduating in 1818. He took his studies very seriously later writing that he "never missed a recitation, nor omitted the punctilious performance of any duty". It also turns out that he was also quite the hypocrite, with it being noted in the Di minutes that he was fined for a few irregularities and one "gross irregularity" (whatever that means). Despite this, he proved quite influential in the dialectic society having been elected Di president twice (One month term in the Spring of Junior year and another term Spring of Senior year), having two of his speeches preserved in the Di's records. Polk also dedicated his free time to doing carpentry for the Di's. Additionally, he was "paid $65.80 for building a bookcase for the corner of the Di chamber" on April 2nd, 1817.

Eventually, Polk left UNC to study law in Tennessee, being admitted to the Bar in 1820 and serving in the Tennessee legislature from 1823 to 1825. Around this time was when he befriended Andrew Jackson, granting him political clout that led to him being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1824 and becoming the legislative champion of the Jackson administration. While serving as Charman of the Ways and Means Committee, he fought to abolish the Second Bank of the U.S.

Polk continued to find success, serving as House Speaker from 1836 to 1838. Upon the insistence of Tennessee Democrats who wished to halt the Whig's influence in the state, Polk became Tenessee's governor in 1838. He eventually was able to even win the presidency in 1845 due to Martin VanBuren openly condemning the annexation of Texas, resulting in Jackson's base throwing support behind Polk. At the time, Polk was the youngest president to have ever held office. His primary goals included establishing an independent treasury, reducing tariffs, settling, Oregon boundary disputes, and acquiring California. Thus, his platform closely aligned with Jackson's political philosophy of Manifest Destiny and constant expansion of the American Empire "from coast to coast". Nevertheless, he managed to achieve each of these goals and also founded the Department of the Interior, oversaw the Smithsonian's creation, and the creation of the U.S. Naval Academy and National Observatory. Polk was quite critical of the Spoils System popular at the time, writing in his diary that:

"if God grants me the length of days and health, I will, after the expiration of my term, give a history of the selfish and corrupt considerations which influence the course of public men, as a legacy to posterity. I shall never be profited by it, but those who come after me maybe".

Despite his ambitions and success, Polk received little praise and was quite reserved, only having a few intimate friends. He was also an incredible moderate at a time demanding extremism, not taking any particular sides on the issue of slavery. Before entering the White House, Polk only reached out to the Dialectic Society once on September 1st, 1836, being elected to give a speech at their commencement the next year. He later declined for unknown reasons. He was again asked to speak on August 7th, 1846, and he accepted. This was the first time a U.S. President was to visit UNC-Chapel Hill and naturally the community was ecstatic. Campus buildings "were thoroughly cleaned and repaired" with a special room being made in a nearby hotel to host the President's entourage. Emboldened by his visit, the dialectic society decided to ask him for his portrait. His written response to the dialectic society was read at a meeting and goes as follows:

Washington City March 15th 1847

Gentleman!

My official duties have prevented an earlier acknowledgment, of the receipt of your letter of the 7th [ ], in which you inform me that you have been appointed, a "Committee of the Dialectic Society", of the University of North Carolina, "to take steps for procuring" my "portrait",--to be "suspended in their debating Hall".--

I remember with pleasure my association with "our common and hallowed fraternity--the Dialectic Society", and though nearly twenty-nine years have elapsed, since I closed my connection with it, I am deeply sensible of the great value of the institution, which I derived from attending its exercised, and my early affection for it, remains undaunted. Fully appreciating the honor which you have done me, I beg you to assure the Society, that it will give me pleasure to comply with the request, which you make on their behalf, and that I can sit for the artist, at any period during the present recess of Congress, which may be designated by yourselves.--

Thanking you,--and the members of the Society whom you represent, for the distinguished evidence of regard, which you have conveyed to me:

I am with Sentiments

Of Great Respect

Your Obedient Servant

James K. Polk

To Messrs

Charles E. Shalier

Wm. U. Howerton

V.C. Barringer

Committee of the Dialectic Society

University of North Carolina

The Phi Society at the time was also making plans for a portrait of John Y. Mason, Secretary of the Navy, to be painted by Sully. Due to his proximity, James K. Polk also got his portrait done by Sully. After a couple of mornings where he sat for one to one and a half hours, the portrait was completed. Polk treated the artist to dinners on May 24th and the 25th, likely as a way of demonstrating his appreciation for the work he put into the portrait. Polk would later return to Chapel Hill o May 28th, 1847 for yet another commencement. The only remaining faculty from his schooling days was Elisha Mitchell who had taught at the University since 1815. Polk was greeted by university president Swain, and former North Carolina governors John M. Morehead and William Graham (these governors also received portraits that adorned the societies' walls). After being introduced by Swain, Polk gave a speech that is best described by university historian Kemp Battle like so: "Polk was applauded for his total absence of ostentation, his sincere and unassuming courtesy". While Polk was in the area, a replica of his portrait was created by Sully for engraving. Once completed on June 8th, it showed "a full-length figure standing by a column, under an archway with a curtain to right". Due to the frame-maker's impatience regarding payment, payment by the dialectic society for Polk's portrait was delayed. In all, the cost came out to around $341.50, certainly not cheap for the time period. It was not recorded whether or not anyone in the Di society actually paid the balance.

Eventually, the strain of the presidency caused Polk to die only a few months after leaving office. To honor his memory and contributions to the organization, the dialectic society drafted resolutions in his honor that were read at the July 28th, 1849 meeting. Only the inner part of the frame is left from the original due to the portrait supposedly falling during a 1908 meeting, smashing the gilt outer part of the frame.

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