Two presidents of the United States were born close to Mecklenburg County, NC. They were 28 years apart in age. But they had much in common.
They were both Masons, born to southern families, lawyers and steadfast friends. Jackson was always Polk’s hero. When Lafayette came to Tennessee, both Jackson and Polk welcomed him and introduced him with great pride to the Grand Lodge of Tennessee.
When Jackson became US president, Polk was his floor leader in the fight against the bank. Jackson told Van Buren to select Polk as his vice president. Both presidents threw open their homes to supporters after their elections. Ms. Polk remarked that their friends “left no marks but the marks of respect.”
Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com
