Most will remember that James K. Polk and Zachary Taylor were both presidents......

Some will remember that Polk was number 11 and Taylor was number 12.....

Only the real nerds will know that there was actually a president in between Polk and Taylor (let's call him president number 11-and-a-half).

Who was this mysterious president number 11-and-a-half and what made his short term necessary?

I am not one that sees him as President. If Polk was not President becuase he was not inaugurared, or sworn in, then neither was the man in question. He spent the day at home! It is my opinion, based on simple logic, that the US had NO president that day. Terms ended, and none, apparently, began. Possibly another was sworn in that I am not aware of, but if Swearing in is necessary, then the man of whom you speak was never President.

ah, distinctions!

The man in question was indeed sworn in! And, you are right - he really didn't do much of anything - he slept for almost the whole day.

To my knowledge, he was never sworn in as President. That is the swearing in to which I refer.

This debate rages on in yet one more little corner of the world here at AnswerPool!

I was hoping to find something definitive to reply with , but came up with more conflicting arguments

Here are a few interesting links that argue thoroughly around the issue (I think one guy even argues with himself!):



[URL=http://home.nycap.rr.com/useless/atchison/]http://home.nycap.rr.com/useless/atchison/

And, the state of Missouri firmly proclaims that he was president for a day!
http://www.house.state.mo.us/Famous/Atchison.htm

As far as the swearing in bit, I do stand in error on this one (oops!). Here's to better research before posing an off the wall question!