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| Introduction: Ritual of Democracy: The Emergence of an Expansionist President | |
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| Young Hickory: The Making of a Jackson Prot�g� | |
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| Tennessee and Washington: The Rise and Fall of a Presidential Loyalist | |
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| The 1844 Election: Searching for a Means of Political Recovery | |
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| Texas: Dawn of a New Era | |
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| Baltimore: America's First Political Dark Horse | |
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| Polk vs. Clay: Answering the Question, �Who Is James K. Polk?� | |
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| The Victor: Preparing for the Mantle of Leadership | |
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| Taking Charge: America's Zest for Grand Ambitions | |
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| Annexation Complete: Diplomacy, Intrigue, and the Force of Politics | |
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| The United States and Oregon: �The People Here Are Worn Out by Delay� | |
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| The United States and Mexico: Divergent New World Cultures on a Path to War | |
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| Britain and Mexico: Playing with Prospects of a Dual War | |
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| The Twenty-ninth Congress: Polk Takes Command of the National Agenda | |
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| End of a Treaty: Diplomacy and Politics at War with Each Other | |
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| War: �Every Consideration of Duty and Patriotism� | |
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| Vagaries of War: �And May There Be No Recreant Soul to Fail or Falter Now� | |
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| Presidential Temperament: �I Prefer to Supervise the Whole Operations of the Government� | |
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| Wilmot's Proviso: Transformation of the War Debate | |
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| The War in the West: Patriotism, Duty, Adventure, and Glory | |
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| The New Face of War: �We Are Yet to Have a Long and Wearisome Struggle� | |
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| The Politics of Rancor: Constitutional Usurpation vs. Moral Treason | |
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| Dilatory Congress: The Challenge of Presidential Leadership | |
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| Veracruz and Beyond: Grappling with Mexico's Military Defiance | |
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| Scott and Trist: A Clash of Policy and Temperament | |
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| Mexico City: The Pivot of Personality | |
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| The Specter of Conquest: �Have We Conquered Peace? Have We Obtained a Treaty?� | |
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| Treaty: From Trist to Polk to the Senate | |
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| Peace: California, New Mexico, and the Union | |
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| Final Months: �Solemnly Impressed with the ... Emptiness of Worldly Honors� | |
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| Epilogue: Legacy: The Price of Presidential Accomplishment | |
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| Notes | |
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| Bibliography | |
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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Index | |