Today in History–November 5–the Library of Congress features James K. Polk, elected president of the United States on this day in 1844. Not so well known, Polk's victory by a narrow margin over Whig candidate Henry Clay was a surprise. A proponent of western expansion, Polk oversaw the addition of Texas and the acquisition of territory from Mexico, which included modern-day California, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. Find out more by visiting … [Read more...]