Sold – Polk Names a Temporary Sec. of State
The first time we can recall seeing a temporary cabinet post go to another cabinet member.
On March 4, 1845, James K. Polk becomes the 11th President of United States. His most important appointment, Secretary of State, went to James Buchanan, who was immediately faced with the Oregon controversy with Britain (that would be amicably settled the following year) and the tense situation with Mexico over a...
On March 4, 1845, James K. Polk becomes the 11th President of United States. His most important appointment, Secretary of State, went to James Buchanan, who was immediately faced with the Oregon controversy with Britain (that would be amicably settled the following year) and the tense situation with Mexico over a former province, Texas (that would lead to the Mexican War). In recognition for his support at the Democratic Convention that nominated Polk, the President gave George Bancroft the cabinet post of Secretary of the Navy. This meant that Bancroft was succeeding John Y. Mason, Tyler’s Navy Secretary and temporary Secretary of War, of whom Polk was quite fond. So rather than lose Mason from the cabinet, Polk named him Attorney General.
Back then, with the first few telegraph lines just going up, when a cabinet member was away from Washington, either at home or on government business, he was essentially out of the loop and unable to respond to crises or perform his duties. When that happened, the President would generally appoint the number two or three man in the department to temporarily take over his responsibilities.
On March 28, 1845, Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the U.S. and war was one giant step closer. Buchanan left Washington a few days later, but with matters at a critical juncture, Polk did not want affairs at the State Department to devolve on a functionary, no matter how capable. Instead, he wanted the trusted Mason involved directly.
Letter Signed as President, Washington, April 2, 1845, to Attorney General John Y. Mason. “You are hereby authorized and requested to perform the duties of secretary of state ad interim, during the temporary absence of the Honorable James Buchanan, Secretary of State, from the seat of government.” This is the first time we can recall seeing a temporary cabinet post go to another cabinet member, one that already had his own duties to perform. That gives us a measure of the importance of the moment and the trust Polk had in Mason.
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