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Sarah Childress Polk
Date of Birth: March 4, 1820
Date of Death: July 10, 1889
Age at death: 69
Married: June 26, 1844 - James
Polk
Children: 7 |
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- Acting as his secretary, Sarah worked
along side the president conducting the business of the country
- Well educated and astute in politics,
she was the first First Lady to attend cabinet meetings and was
viewed by James as his most trusted advisor
- Her influence was not limited to politics
as reflected in her edicts of no dancing, singing, music, card
playing, gambling or alcohol at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
- When the Polk's arrived in Washington
Sarah insisted the band that had been assembled at the dock to
greet them cease playing because it was Sunday
- The inaugural ball had been prearranged
to include the Marine Band, but they were instructed to stop
playing when the Polks were in the room and continue when they
left
- At her insistence no business was
to be conducted on Sunday, and to prove her point she once turned
away the Minister to Australia who made the mistake of calling
on the president on the Sabbath
- Sarah was the brunt of jokes when
gas lights were installed at White House in 1848, because she
insisted the Blue Room chandelier not be replaced with a modern
light fixture
- Shortly thereafter the lights failed
during a state reception, and guests huddled in the Blue Room,
the only source of light in the White House.
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