The Patriotic Business of Seeking Office

Historically, James K. Polk is described as a spoilsman who appointed officers based upon their party affiliation rather than their qualifications. This book, however, asserts that Polk merely followed an existing pattern of nomination that dated back to the beginning of the republic, in which the chief executives looked to qualifications first and loyalty to the party second. The Patriotic Business of Seeking Public Office offers a detailed examination of Polk's nomination practices and his quest for qualified candidates regardless of their party lines.

John Devoti is an adjunct professor of American history at Philadelphia University.

Preface	vii
Acknowledgments	viii
Introduction	ix
Chapter 1 "Fitness of Characters"	1	(22)
Chapter 2 "The Most Available Man"	23	(16)
Chapter 3 "The Besetting Evil of the Times"	39	(16)
Chapter 4 "The Most Contemptible of our Race"	55	(14)
Chapter 5 "We are Obliged to Recommend our Constituents"	69	(8)
Chapter 6 "A Fire upon my Rear"	77	(26)
Chapter 7 "A Great Bulwark of Liberty"	103	(14)
Chapter 8 "Capacity should be a Condition of Holding Office"	117	(10)
Chapter 9 "Cease to be a Servant"	127	(14)
Bibliography	141	(12)
Index	153

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The Patriotic Business of Seeking Office James K. Polk and the Patronage

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