James K. Polk was an American politician and the eleventh President of
the United States, serving from March 4, 1845 to March 4, 1849. Polk
was born in North Carolina, but primarily lived in and represented the
state of Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as Speaker of the House
(1835–1839) and Governor of Tennessee (1839–1841) prior to becoming
president. He is the only former Speaker of the House to become
President. He is noted for his expansionist beliefs, for his pledge to
serve only one term, and for becoming the first "dark horse" (a
candidate who unexpectedly gains the party nomination) to win the
presidency. His term is remembered for the Mexican-American War, the
opening of the U.S. Naval Academy and Washington Monument, and the
issuance of the first postage stamps in the United States.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_K._Polk
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1898:
Yukon Territory was formed, with Dawson chosen as its capital.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon)
1966:
The Miranda v. Arizona ruling established the Miranda Warning.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miranda_v._Arizona)
1967:
Thurgood Marshall was nominated as the first African American justice
of the U.S. Supreme Court.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshall)
1971:
Vietnam War: The New York Times began to publish the Pentagon Papers.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_Papers)
1983:
Pioneer 10 became the first man-made object to leave the solar system.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_10)
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Wikiquote of the day:
"Talent perceives differences, Genius unity." -- William Butler Yeats
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Butler_Yeats)