Elections are to be held in the United States on November 5 and Vice President Kamala Harris is one of the contenders for the top post. If Harris becomes president, she will be only the 16th US vice president out of 50 to reach the presidency since 1789.
Here’s a look at American vice presidents who rose to the presidency:
John Adams (1797-1801)
John Adams, a leading political philosopher, was the second President of the United States, following his role as first Vice President under George Washington. When Adams won the presidency, Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson ran second, resulting in a president and vice president from opposing parties.
Thomas Jefferson (1801 to 1809)
Thomas Jefferson, a proponent of democracy and an American Founding Father, was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and served as the third President of the United States. When Jefferson took over as president, he reduced army and navy spending, streamlined the budget, and eliminated the unpopular whiskey tax that plagued the West.
Martin Van Buren (1837–1841)
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States. A New York politician, he was appointed Secretary of State by Andrew Jackson. Skilled at managing the internal conflicts of the Jackson administration, Van Buren served as vice president during Jackson’s second term from 1833 to 1837. He ran for president as a Democrat in 1836 and prevailed over three Whig candidates.
John Tyler (1841–1845)
John Tyler assumed the presidency as the 10th President of the United States following the death of President William Henry Harrison in April 1841, just 32 days into his term. Often referred to by critics as “his accident”, Tyler was the first Vice President to assume the presidency after the death of his predecessor.
Millard Fillmore (1850–1853)
Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States and a member of the Whig Party, has the distinction of being the last president not to align with the Democratic or Republican parties.
Andrew Johnson (1865–1869)
Andrew Johnson supported slavery and states’ rights but opposed Southern secession in 1861. Elected as Abraham Lincoln’s running mate for the “Union” party in 1864, he became the 17th President of the United States after Lincoln’s assassination in 1865.
Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885)
Chester A., a Vermont native with limited political experience. Arthur was appointed Collector of Tariffs in New York, where he engaged in corrupt practices to fund the Republican Party. He joined the 1880 Republican ticket as James Garfield’s running mate and became the 21st President of the United States, assuming office after the assassination of President James Garfield.
Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909)
Following the assassination of President William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, at just under 43 years of age, ascended to the presidency as the 26th and youngest leader in American history. He injected new energy and authority into the office, enthusiastically guiding Congress and the American public toward progressive reforms and a strong foreign policy.
Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
Calvin Coolidge served as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Massachusetts before becoming Warren Harding’s running mate in 1920. He assumed the presidency in 1923 after Harding’s death. Coolidge was re-elected in 1924 with the slogan ‘Stay Cool with Coolidge’.
Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)
Selected as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s running mate in 1944, Harry Truman became the 33rd President of the United States after Roosevelt’s death. Truman made some historic decisions, including authorizing the atomic bombing of Japan.
Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969)
During the 1960 election campaign, Lyndon B. Johnson was known as John F. Kennedy was selected as Vice President. Johnson was sworn into office as the 36th President of the United States following Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963.
Richard M. Nixon (1969–1974)
Richard Nixon, who served as both a U.S. Representative and Senator from California, was elected as the 37th President of the United States. He is best known for ending US military involvement in Vietnam and improving diplomatic relations with the USSR and China.
Gerald R. Ford (1974–1977)
Gerald Ford, a veteran legislator from Michigan, became Richard Nixon’s vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned in 1973 due to corruption charges. In August 1974, Ford assumed the presidency when Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment.
George H.W. Bush (1989–1993)
The 41st President of the United States, George HW Bush, served two terms as Ronald Reagan’s Vice President. He won the 1988 presidential election against Democratic nominee Mike Dukakis. Bush played a key role in ending the Cold War and led an international coalition to oust Iraqi forces following the invasion of Kuwait.
Joe Biden (2020–present)
Joe Biden ran for president twice before being selected as Barack Obama’s potential running mate in 2008. He chose not to participate in 2016, partly due to the cancer-related death of his son Beau. Ultimately, Biden won the presidency in 2020.
