write:which me-thought might turn the hearts of some of his mostviolent opponents” (Sandweiss Eyewitness to War 241). Daguerreotype withapplied color ca. 1847–49 213/16 × 2⅜

which me-thought
might turn the hearts of some of his mostviolent opponents” (Sandweiss
Eyewitness to War
241). Daguerreotype withapplied color
ca. 1847–49
213/16 × 2⅜ inches. Amon Carter Museum ofAmerican Art
Fort Worth
Texas
P1981.65.12. (photo credit 11.2)In early October
Polk was struck by a serious attackof chills and fever. Bedridden
he “transacted nobusiness of any kind” for nearly a week. Polk wasn’tused to idleness
and long days in bed left him too muchtime to think about the war. How had things gone sowrong? And how could he salvage the comingpresidential election for the Democratic Party?19When he nally rose from bed
still too “feeble” toremain standing for more than a few minutes at a time
Polk’s rst decision was to re Trist. He called thecabinet to his bedroom. He explained that if Trist