Polk the Empty Nester

While still young James Polk  had a risky surgery for urinary stones.  This could have had him sterile.  If  urinary stones are the 19th century description of kidney stones then the surgery may have been a last alternative to the enormously debilitating pain from stones (I have had them).  It would have been worth it if they were a constant condition.

Polk Facts

James K. Polk has been the only president to also have been Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Up to his president, Polk was the youngest elected president at age forty-nine. Polk announced at the beginning that he was not going to seek re-election and he did not.  He also accomplished all of the objectives that he announced during his presidency spending all of his political capital. He was so determined that he had his cabinet members sign an agreement to stay in Washington during his term, which he did as well.  The members of his cabinet had to resign if there were going to seek the presidency, he did not want any contention in his cabinet.