List of presidents of the United States by other offices held
Updated: 11/6/2025, 2:14:17 AM Wikipedia source
This is a list of presidents of the United States by other offices (either elected or appointed) held. Every president except Donald Trump has served as at least one of the following:
a member of the Presidential Cabinet (either Vice President or Cabinet secretary) a member of Congress (either U.S. senator or representative) a governor of a state a general of the United States Army
Tables
· Federal government › Executive branch › Vice presidents
John Adams
John Adams
Vice President
John Adams
President served under
George Washington
Year(s) served
1789–1797
Notes
Incumbent vice president succeeded Washington after winning the 1796 election
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Vice President
Thomas Jefferson
President served under
John Adams
Year(s) served
1797–1801
Notes
Incumbent vice president succeeded Adams after winning the 1800 election
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Vice President
Martin Van Buren
President served under
Andrew Jackson
Year(s) served
1833–1837
Notes
Incumbent vice president succeeded Jackson after winning the 1836 election
John Tyler
John Tyler
Vice President
John Tyler
President served under
William Henry Harrison
Year(s) served
1841
Notes
Became president after Harrison's death, ran for election in 1844 as nominee of Democratic Party before dropping out and endorsing Polk, the eventual winner
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
Vice President
Millard Fillmore
President served under
Zachary Taylor
Year(s) served
1849–1850
Notes
Became president after Taylor's death, lost nomination for Whig Party in 1852 election bid, later also ran unsuccessfully in the 1856 election
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Vice President
Andrew Johnson
President served under
Abraham Lincoln
Year(s) served
1865
Notes
Became president after Lincoln's assassination, lost nomination for the Democratic Party in 1868 election bid
Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Vice President
Chester A. Arthur
President served under
James A. Garfield
Year(s) served
1881
Notes
Became president after Garfield's assassination, failed to secure the Republican Party nomination in 1884 election bid
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Vice President
Theodore Roosevelt
President served under
William McKinley
Year(s) served
1901
Notes
Became president after McKinley's assassination, later elected to own term in 1904
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
Vice President
Calvin Coolidge
President served under
Warren G. Harding
Year(s) served
1921–1923
Notes
Became president after Harding's death, later elected to own term in 1924
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Vice President
Harry S. Truman
President served under
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Year(s) served
1945
Notes
Became president after Roosevelt's death, later elected to own term in 1948
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Vice President
Richard Nixon
President served under
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Year(s) served
1953–1961
Notes
Lost as incumbent vice president in the 1960 election, later ran and won the 1968 election becoming the first former vice president to win the presidency
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Vice President
Lyndon B. Johnson
President served under
John F. Kennedy
Year(s) served
1961–1963
Notes
Became president after Kennedy's assassination, later elected to own term in 1964
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Vice President
Gerald Ford
President served under
Richard Nixon
Year(s) served
1973–1974
Notes
Became president after Nixon's resignation, lost the 1976 election in bid for own term
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
Vice President
George H. W. Bush
President served under
Ronald Reagan
Year(s) served
1981–1989
Notes
Incumbent vice president succeeded Reagan after winning the 1988 election
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Vice President
Joe Biden
President served under
Barack Obama
Year(s) served
2009–2017
Notes
Did not run as incumbent vice president in the 2016 election, later ran and won the 2020 election becoming the second former vice president to win the presidency
| Vice President | President served under | Year(s) served | Notes |
| John Adams | George Washington | 1789–1797 | Incumbent vice president succeeded Washington after winning the 1796 election |
| Thomas Jefferson | John Adams | 1797–1801 | Incumbent vice president succeeded Adams after winning the 1800 election |
| Martin Van Buren | Andrew Jackson | 1833–1837 | Incumbent vice president succeeded Jackson after winning the 1836 election |
| John Tyler | William Henry Harrison | 1841 | Became president after Harrison's death, ran for election in 1844 as nominee of Democratic Party before dropping out and endorsing Polk, the eventual winner |
| Millard Fillmore | Zachary Taylor | 1849–1850 | Became president after Taylor's death, lost nomination for Whig Party in 1852 election bid, later also ran unsuccessfully in the 1856 election |
| Andrew Johnson | Abraham Lincoln | 1865 | Became president after Lincoln's assassination, lost nomination for the Democratic Party in 1868 election bid |
| Chester A. Arthur | James A. Garfield | 1881 | Became president after Garfield's assassination, failed to secure the Republican Party nomination in 1884 election bid |
| Theodore Roosevelt | William McKinley | 1901 | Became president after McKinley's assassination, later elected to own term in 1904 |
| Calvin Coolidge | Warren G. Harding | 1921–1923 | Became president after Harding's death, later elected to own term in 1924 |
| Harry S. Truman | Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1945 | Became president after Roosevelt's death, later elected to own term in 1948 |
| Richard Nixon | Dwight D. Eisenhower | 1953–1961 | Lost as incumbent vice president in the 1960 election, later ran and won the 1968 election becoming the first former vice president to win the presidency |
| Lyndon B. Johnson | John F. Kennedy | 1961–1963 | Became president after Kennedy's assassination, later elected to own term in 1964 |
| Gerald Ford | Richard Nixon | 1973–1974 | Became president after Nixon's resignation, lost the 1976 election in bid for own term |
| George H. W. Bush | Ronald Reagan | 1981–1989 | Incumbent vice president succeeded Reagan after winning the 1988 election |
| Joe Biden | Barack Obama | 2009–2017 | Did not run as incumbent vice president in the 2016 election, later ran and won the 2020 election becoming the second former vice president to win the presidency |
· Federal government › Executive branch › Cabinet secretaries
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Secretary
Thomas Jefferson
Office
Secretary of State
President served under
George Washington
Year(s) served
1790–1793
James Madison
James Madison
Secretary
James Madison
Office
Thomas Jefferson
President served under
1801–1809
James Monroe
James Monroe
Secretary
James Monroe
Office
James Madison
President served under
1811–1817
Secretary of War
Secretary of War
Secretary
Secretary of War
Office
1814–1815
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
Secretary
John Quincy Adams
Office
Secretary of State
President served under
James Monroe
Year(s) served
1817–1825
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Secretary
Martin Van Buren
Office
Andrew Jackson
President served under
1829–1831
James Buchanan
James Buchanan
Secretary
James Buchanan
Office
James K. Polk
President served under
1845–1849
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Secretary
Ulysses S. Grant
Office
Acting Secretary of War
President served under
Andrew Johnson
Year(s) served
1867–1868
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
Secretary
William Howard Taft
Office
Secretary of War
President served under
Theodore Roosevelt
Year(s) served
1904–1908
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Secretary
Herbert Hoover
Office
Secretary of Commerce
President served under
Warren G. Harding
Year(s) served
1921–1928
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
Secretary
Calvin Coolidge
| Secretary | Office | President served under | Year(s) served |
| Thomas Jefferson | Secretary of State | George Washington | 1790–1793 |
| James Madison | Thomas Jefferson | 1801–1809 | |
| James Monroe | James Madison | 1811–1817 | |
| Secretary of War | 1814–1815 | ||
| John Quincy Adams | Secretary of State | James Monroe | 1817–1825 |
| Martin Van Buren | Andrew Jackson | 1829–1831 | |
| James Buchanan | James K. Polk | 1845–1849 | |
| Ulysses S. Grant | Acting Secretary of War | Andrew Johnson | 1867–1868 |
| William Howard Taft | Secretary of War | Theodore Roosevelt | 1904–1908 |
| Herbert Hoover | Secretary of Commerce | Warren G. Harding | 1921–1928 |
| Calvin Coolidge |
· Federal government › Executive branch › Ambassadors
John Adams
John Adams
President
John Adams
Position
Minister to Britain
President served under
Congress of the Confederation
Year(s) served
1785–1788
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
President
Thomas Jefferson
Position
Minister Plenipotentiary to France
President served under
1785–1789
James Monroe
James Monroe
President
James Monroe
Position
George Washington
President served under
1794–1796
Minister to Britain
Minister to Britain
President
Minister to Britain
Position
Thomas Jefferson
President served under
1803–1807
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
President
John Quincy Adams
Position
Minister to the Netherlands
President served under
George WashingtonJohn Adams
Year(s) served
1794–1797
Minister to Germany
Minister to Germany
President
Minister to Germany
Position
John Adams
President served under
1797–1801
Minister to Russia
Minister to Russia
President
Minister to Russia
Position
James Madison
President served under
1809–1814
Minister to Britain
Minister to Britain
President
Minister to Britain
Position
James Madison
President served under
1815–1817
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
President
Martin Van Buren
Position
Andrew Jackson
President served under
1831–1832
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
President
William Henry Harrison
Position
Minister to Gran Colombia
President served under
John Quincy Adams
Year(s) served
1828–1829
James Buchanan
James Buchanan
President
James Buchanan
Position
Minister to Britain
President served under
Franklin Pierce
Year(s) served
1853–1856
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
President
George H. W. Bush
Position
Ambassador to the United Nations
President served under
Richard Nixon
Year(s) served
1971–1973
Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in Beijing
Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in Beijing
President
Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in Beijing
Position
Gerald Ford
President served under
1974–1975
| President | Position | President served under | Year(s) served |
| John Adams | Minister to Britain | Congress of the Confederation | 1785–1788 |
| Thomas Jefferson | Minister Plenipotentiary to France | 1785–1789 | |
| James Monroe | George Washington | 1794–1796 | |
| Minister to Britain | Thomas Jefferson | 1803–1807 | |
| John Quincy Adams | Minister to the Netherlands | George WashingtonJohn Adams | 1794–1797 |
| Minister to Germany | John Adams | 1797–1801 | |
| Minister to Russia | James Madison | 1809–1814 | |
| Minister to Britain | James Madison | 1815–1817 | |
| Martin Van Buren | Andrew Jackson | 1831–1832 | |
| William Henry Harrison | Minister to Gran Colombia | John Quincy Adams | 1828–1829 |
| James Buchanan | Minister to Britain | Franklin Pierce | 1853–1856 |
| George H. W. Bush | Ambassador to the United Nations | Richard Nixon | 1971–1973 |
| Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in Beijing | Gerald Ford | 1974–1975 |
· Federal government › Executive branch › Other federal appointees
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
President
Franklin Pierce
Office
United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire
President appointed by
James K. Polk
Year(s) served
1845–1847
Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
President
Chester A. Arthur
Office
Collector of the Port of New York
President appointed by
Ulysses S. Grant
Year(s) served
1871–1878
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
President
Theodore Roosevelt
Office
Member, United States Civil Service Commission
President appointed by
Benjamin Harrison
Year(s) served
1889–1895
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
President
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Office
William McKinley
President appointed by
1897–1898
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
President
William Howard Taft
Office
Solicitor General
President appointed by
Benjamin Harrison
Year(s) served
1890–1892
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Office
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
President appointed by
Woodrow Wilson
Year(s) served
1913–1920
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
President
George H. W. Bush
Office
Director of Central Intelligence
President appointed by
Gerald Ford
Year(s) served
1976–1977
| President | Office | President appointed by | Year(s) served |
| Franklin Pierce | United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire | James K. Polk | 1845–1847 |
| Chester A. Arthur | Collector of the Port of New York | Ulysses S. Grant | 1871–1878 |
| Theodore Roosevelt | Member, United States Civil Service Commission | Benjamin Harrison | 1889–1895 |
| Assistant Secretary of the Navy | William McKinley | 1897–1898 | |
| William Howard Taft | Solicitor General | Benjamin Harrison | 1890–1892 |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | Assistant Secretary of the Navy | Woodrow Wilson | 1913–1920 |
| George H. W. Bush | Director of Central Intelligence | Gerald Ford | 1976–1977 |
· Federal government › Judicial branch › Chief Justice of the United States
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
President
William Howard Taft
President nominated by
Warren G. Harding
Year(s) served
1921–1930
Notes
Only president to serve on the Supreme Court
| President | President nominated by | Year(s) served | Notes |
| William Howard Taft | Warren G. Harding | 1921–1930 | Only president to serve on the Supreme Court |
· Federal government › Judicial branch › Other federal judges
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
President
William Howard Taft
Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
President nominated by
Benjamin Harrison
Year(s) served
1892–1900
| President | Court | President nominated by | Year(s) served |
| William Howard Taft | United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | Benjamin Harrison | 1892–1900 |
· Federal government › Legislative branch › Senators
California
California
State
California
President
Richard Nixon
Year(s) served
1950–1953
Notes
Resigned to become vice president
Delaware
Delaware
State
Delaware
President
Joe Biden
Year(s) served
1973–2009
Notes
Resigned to become vice president
Indiana
Indiana
State
Indiana
President
Benjamin Harrison
Year(s) served
1881–1887
Illinois
Illinois
State
Illinois
President
Barack Obama
Year(s) served
2005–2008
Notes
Third sitting senator elected to the presidency
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
State
Massachusetts
President
John Quincy Adams
Year(s) served
1803–1808
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
State
John F. Kennedy
President
1953–1960
Year(s) served
Second sitting senator elected to the presidency
Missouri
Missouri
State
Missouri
President
Harry S. Truman
Year(s) served
1935–1945
Notes
Resigned to become vice president
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
State
New Hampshire
President
Franklin Pierce
Year(s) served
1837–1842
New York
New York
State
New York
President
Martin Van Buren
Year(s) served
1821–1828
Ohio
Ohio
State
Ohio
President
William Henry Harrison
Year(s) served
1825–1828
Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
State
Warren G. Harding
President
1915–1921
Year(s) served
First sitting senator elected to the presidency
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
State
Pennsylvania
President
James Buchanan
Year(s) served
1834–1845
Tennessee
Tennessee
State
Tennessee
President
Andrew Jackson
Year(s) served
1797–1798
1823–1825
1823–1825
State
1823–1825
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
State
Andrew Johnson
President
1857–1862
1875
1875
State
1875
President
Only former president in the Senate
Texas
Texas
State
Texas
President
Lyndon B. Johnson
Year(s) served
1949–1961
Notes
Senate minority leader 1953–1955Senate majority leader 1955–1961Resigned to become vice president
Virginia
Virginia
State
Virginia
President
James Monroe
Year(s) served
1790–1794
Notes
First former senator to become president
John Tyler
John Tyler
State
John Tyler
President
1827–1836
Year(s) served
Only former president pro tempore to become president
| State | President | Year(s) served | Notes |
| California | Richard Nixon | 1950–1953 | Resigned to become vice president |
| Delaware | Joe Biden | 1973–2009 | Resigned to become vice president |
| Indiana | Benjamin Harrison | 1881–1887 | |
| Illinois | Barack Obama | 2005–2008 | Third sitting senator elected to the presidency |
| Massachusetts | John Quincy Adams | 1803–1808 | |
| John F. Kennedy | 1953–1960 | Second sitting senator elected to the presidency | |
| Missouri | Harry S. Truman | 1935–1945 | Resigned to become vice president |
| New Hampshire | Franklin Pierce | 1837–1842 | |
| New York | Martin Van Buren | 1821–1828 | |
| Ohio | William Henry Harrison | 1825–1828 | |
| Warren G. Harding | 1915–1921 | First sitting senator elected to the presidency | |
| Pennsylvania | James Buchanan | 1834–1845 | |
| Tennessee | Andrew Jackson | 1797–1798 | |
| 1823–1825 | |||
| Andrew Johnson | 1857–1862 | ||
| 1875 | Only former president in the Senate | ||
| Texas | Lyndon B. Johnson | 1949–1961 | Senate minority leader 1953–1955Senate majority leader 1955–1961Resigned to become vice president |
| Virginia | James Monroe | 1790–1794 | First former senator to become president |
| John Tyler | 1827–1836 | Only former president pro tempore to become president |
· Federal government › Legislative branch › Members of the House of Representatives
California
California
State
California
President
Richard Nixon
Year(s) served
1947–1950
Illinois
Illinois
State
Illinois
President
Abraham Lincoln
Year(s) served
1847–1849
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
State
John F. Kennedy
President
1947–1953
Michigan
Michigan
State
Michigan
President
Gerald Ford
Year(s) served
1949–1973
Notes
House minority leader 1965–1973Resigned to become vice president
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
State
New Hampshire
President
Franklin Pierce
Year(s) served
1833–1837
New York
New York
State
New York
President
Millard Fillmore
Year(s) served
1833–1835
1837–1843
1837–1843
State
1837–1843
Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
State
Northwest Territory
President
William Henry Harrison
Year(s) served
1799–1800
Notes
Served as a non-voting delegate
Ohio
Ohio
State
Ohio
President
William Henry Harrison
Year(s) served
1816–1819
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
State
Rutherford B. Hayes
President
1865–1867
James A. Garfield
James A. Garfield
State
James A. Garfield
President
1863–1880
Year(s) served
Republican floor leader 1877–1880Only sitting representative elected to the presidency
William McKinley
William McKinley
State
William McKinley
President
1877–1883
1885–1891
1885–1891
State
1885–1891
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
State
Pennsylvania
President
James Buchanan
Year(s) served
1821–1831
Tennessee
Tennessee
State
Tennessee
President
Andrew Jackson
Year(s) served
1796–1797
James K. Polk
James K. Polk
State
James K. Polk
President
1825–1839
Year(s) served
Only former speaker to become president
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
State
Andrew Johnson
President
1843–1853
Texas
Texas
State
Texas
President
Lyndon B. Johnson
Year(s) served
1937–1949
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
State
George H. W. Bush
President
1967–1971
Virginia
Virginia
State
Virginia
President
James Madison
Year(s) served
1789–1797
Notes
First former representative to become president
John Tyler
John Tyler
State
John Tyler
President
1816–1821
| State | President | Year(s) served | Notes |
| California | Richard Nixon | 1947–1950 | |
| Illinois | Abraham Lincoln | 1847–1849 | |
| Massachusetts | John Quincy Adams | 1831–1848 | Only former president in the House of Representatives |
| John F. Kennedy | 1947–1953 | ||
| Michigan | Gerald Ford | 1949–1973 | House minority leader 1965–1973Resigned to become vice president |
| New Hampshire | Franklin Pierce | 1833–1837 | |
| New York | Millard Fillmore | 1833–1835 | |
| 1837–1843 | |||
| Northwest Territory | William Henry Harrison | 1799–1800 | Served as a non-voting delegate |
| Ohio | William Henry Harrison | 1816–1819 | |
| Rutherford B. Hayes | 1865–1867 | ||
| James A. Garfield | 1863–1880 | Republican floor leader 1877–1880Only sitting representative elected to the presidency | |
| William McKinley | 1877–1883 | ||
| 1885–1891 | |||
| Pennsylvania | James Buchanan | 1821–1831 | |
| Tennessee | Andrew Jackson | 1796–1797 | |
| James K. Polk | 1825–1839 | Only former speaker to become president | |
| Andrew Johnson | 1843–1853 | ||
| Texas | Lyndon B. Johnson | 1937–1949 | |
| George H. W. Bush | 1967–1971 | ||
| Virginia | James Madison | 1789–1797 | First former representative to become president |
| John Tyler | 1816–1821 |
· Federal government › Continental Congress
George Washington
George Washington
President
George Washington
State
Virginia
Year(s) served
1774–1775
Body served
First Continental Congress
John Adams
John Adams
President
John Adams
State
Massachusetts
Year(s) served
1774–1777
Body served
First Continental Congress, Second Continental Congress
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
President
Thomas Jefferson
State
Virginia
Year(s) served
1775–17761783–1784
Body served
Second Continental Congress, Congress of the Confederation
James Madison
James Madison
President
James Madison
State
1780–17831787–1788
Year(s) served
Second Continental Congress, Congress of the Confederation
James Monroe
James Monroe
President
James Monroe
State
1783–1786
Year(s) served
Congress of the Confederation
| President | State | Year(s) served | Body served |
| George Washington | Virginia | 1774–1775 | First Continental Congress |
| John Adams | Massachusetts | 1774–1777 | First Continental Congress, Second Continental Congress |
| Thomas Jefferson | Virginia | 1775–17761783–1784 | Second Continental Congress, Congress of the Confederation |
| James Madison | 1780–17831787–1788 | Second Continental Congress, Congress of the Confederation | |
| James Monroe | 1783–1786 | Congress of the Confederation |
· State and territorial government › Governors
American occupation zone in Germany
American occupation zone in Germany
State / Territory
American occupation zone in Germany
President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Year(s) served
1945
Notes
Military governor
Arkansas
Arkansas
State / Territory
Arkansas
President
Bill Clinton
Year(s) served
1979–1981
1983–1992
1983–1992
State / Territory
1983–1992
California
California
State / Territory
California
President
Ronald Reagan
Year(s) served
1967–1975
Cuba
Cuba
State / Territory
Cuba
President
William Howard Taft
Year(s) served
1906
Notes
Provisional governor
Florida Territory
Florida Territory
State / Territory
Florida Territory
President
Andrew Jackson
Year(s) served
1821
Notes
Military governor
Georgia
Georgia
State / Territory
Georgia
President
Jimmy Carter
Year(s) served
1971–1975
Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
State / Territory
Indiana Territory
President
William Henry Harrison
Year(s) served
1801–1813
Louisiana District
Louisiana District
State / Territory
Louisiana District
President
William Henry Harrison
Year(s) served
1804–1805
Notes
Interim authority
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
State / Territory
Massachusetts
President
Calvin Coolidge
Year(s) served
1919–1921
New Jersey
New Jersey
State / Territory
New Jersey
President
Woodrow Wilson
Year(s) served
1911–1913
New York
New York
State / Territory
New York
President
Martin Van Buren
Year(s) served
1829
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
State / Territory
Grover Cleveland
President
1883–1885
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
State / Territory
Theodore Roosevelt
President
1899–1900
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
State / Territory
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President
1929–1932
Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
State / Territory
Northwest Territory
President
William Henry Harrison
Year(s) served
1798–1799
Notes
Acting governor
Ohio
Ohio
State / Territory
Ohio
President
Rutherford B. Hayes
Year(s) served
1868–1872
1876–1877
1876–1877
State / Territory
1876–1877
William McKinley
William McKinley
State / Territory
William McKinley
President
1892–1896
Philippines
Philippines
State / Territory
Philippines
President
William Howard Taft
Year(s) served
1901–1904
Notes
Governor-general
Tennessee
Tennessee
State / Territory
Tennessee
President
James K. Polk
Year(s) served
1839–1841
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
State / Territory
Andrew Johnson
President
1853–1857
1862–1865
1862–1865
State / Territory
1862–1865
President
Military governor
Texas
Texas
State / Territory
Texas
President
George W. Bush
Year(s) served
1995–2000
Virginia
Virginia
State / Territory
Virginia
President
Thomas Jefferson
Year(s) served
1779–1781
James Monroe
James Monroe
State / Territory
James Monroe
President
1799–1802
1811
1811
State / Territory
1811
John Tyler
John Tyler
State / Territory
John Tyler
President
1825–1827
| State / Territory | President | Year(s) served | Notes |
| American occupation zone in Germany | Dwight D. Eisenhower | 1945 | Military governor |
| Arkansas | Bill Clinton | 1979–1981 | |
| 1983–1992 | |||
| California | Ronald Reagan | 1967–1975 | |
| Cuba | William Howard Taft | 1906 | Provisional governor |
| Florida Territory | Andrew Jackson | 1821 | Military governor |
| Georgia | Jimmy Carter | 1971–1975 | |
| Indiana Territory | William Henry Harrison | 1801–1813 | |
| Louisiana District | William Henry Harrison | 1804–1805 | Interim authority |
| Massachusetts | Calvin Coolidge | 1919–1921 | |
| New Jersey | Woodrow Wilson | 1911–1913 | |
| New York | Martin Van Buren | 1829 | |
| Grover Cleveland | 1883–1885 | ||
| Theodore Roosevelt | 1899–1900 | ||
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1929–1932 | ||
| Northwest Territory | William Henry Harrison | 1798–1799 | Acting governor |
| Ohio | Rutherford B. Hayes | 1868–1872 | |
| 1876–1877 | |||
| William McKinley | 1892–1896 | ||
| Philippines | William Howard Taft | 1901–1904 | Governor-general |
| Tennessee | James K. Polk | 1839–1841 | |
| Andrew Johnson | 1853–1857 | ||
| 1862–1865 | Military governor | ||
| Texas | George W. Bush | 1995–2000 | |
| Virginia | Thomas Jefferson | 1779–1781 | |
| James Monroe | 1799–1802 | ||
| 1811 | |||
| John Tyler | 1825–1827 |
· State and territorial government › State legislators
Georgia State Senate
Georgia State Senate
State legislature
Georgia State Senate
President
Jimmy Carter
Year(s)served
1963–1967
Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
State legislature
Illinois Senate
President
Barack Obama
Year(s)served
1997–2004
Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
State legislature
Massachusetts Senate
President
John Quincy Adams
Year(s)served
1802
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
State legislature
Calvin Coolidge
President
1912–1915
New York Senate
New York Senate
State legislature
New York Senate
President
Martin Van Buren
Year(s)served
1812–1820
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
State legislature
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President
1911–1913
New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
State legislature
New York State Assembly
President
Millard Fillmore
Year(s)served
1829–1831
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
State legislature
Theodore Roosevelt
President
1882–1884
Year(s)served
Assembly minority leader in 1883
Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
State legislature
Ohio Senate
President
William Henry Harrison
Year(s)served
1819–1821
James A. Garfield
James A. Garfield
State legislature
James A. Garfield
President
1859–1861
Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
State legislature
Warren G. Harding
President
1899–1903
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
State legislature
Andrew Johnson
President
1835–1837
Tennessee Senate
Tennessee Senate
State legislature
Tennessee Senate
President
Andrew Johnson
Year(s)served
1841–1843
James Madison
James Madison
State legislature
James Madison
President
1776–1777
James Monroe
James Monroe
State legislature
James Monroe
President
1782–1783
John Tyler
John Tyler
State legislature
John Tyler
President
1811–1816
1823–1825
1823–1825
State legislature
1823–1825
| State legislature | President | Year(s)served | Notes |
| Georgia State Senate | Jimmy Carter | 1963–1967 | |
| Illinois House of Representatives | Abraham Lincoln | 1834–1842 | |
| Illinois Senate | Barack Obama | 1997–2004 | |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | Calvin Coolidge | 1907–1909 | |
| Massachusetts Senate | John Quincy Adams | 1802 | |
| Calvin Coolidge | 1912–1915 | ||
| New Hampshire House of Representatives | Franklin Pierce | 1829–1833 | Speaker of the House, 1832–1833 |
| New York Senate | Martin Van Buren | 1812–1820 | |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1911–1913 | ||
| New York State Assembly | Millard Fillmore | 1829–1831 | |
| Theodore Roosevelt | 1882–1884 | Assembly minority leader in 1883 | |
| Ohio Senate | William Henry Harrison | 1819–1821 | |
| James A. Garfield | 1859–1861 | ||
| Warren G. Harding | 1899–1903 | ||
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives | James Buchanan | 1814–1816 | |
| Tennessee House of Representatives | James K. Polk | 1823–1825 | |
| Andrew Johnson | 1835–1837 | ||
| Tennessee Senate | Andrew Johnson | 1841–1843 | |
| Virginia House of Delegates | Thomas Jefferson | 1776–1779 | |
| James Madison | 1776–1777 | ||
| James Monroe | 1782–1783 | ||
| John Tyler | 1811–1816 | ||
| 1823–1825 |
· State and territorial government › Other statewide offices
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
President
Andrew Jackson
Office and jurisdiction
Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court
Year(s) served
1798–1804
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
President
Martin Van Buren
Office and jurisdiction
Attorney General of New York
Year(s) served
1815–1819
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
President
Millard Fillmore
Office and jurisdiction
New York State Comptroller
Year(s) served
1847–1849
Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
President
Warren G. Harding
Office and jurisdiction
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
Year(s) served
1904–1906
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
President
Calvin Coolidge
Office and jurisdiction
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Year(s) served
1916–1919
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
President
Bill Clinton
Office and jurisdiction
Attorney General of Arkansas
Year(s) served
1977–1979
| President | Office and jurisdiction | Year(s) served |
| Andrew Jackson | Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court | 1798–1804 |
| Martin Van Buren | Attorney General of New York | 1815–1819 |
| Millard Fillmore | New York State Comptroller | 1847–1849 |
| Warren G. Harding | Lieutenant Governor of Ohio | 1904–1906 |
| Calvin Coolidge | Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts | 1916–1919 |
| Bill Clinton | Attorney General of Arkansas | 1977–1979 |
· Local government
George Washington
George Washington
President
George Washington
Office and jurisdiction
County surveyor in Mount Vernon
Year(s) served
1749–1751
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
President
Martin Van Buren
Office and jurisdiction
Surrogate of Columbia County, New York
Year(s) served
1808–1812
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
President
Abraham Lincoln
Office and jurisdiction
Postmaster of New Salem, Illinois
Year(s) served
1832–1833
County Surveyor for Sangamon County, Illinois
County Surveyor for Sangamon County, Illinois
President
County Surveyor for Sangamon County, Illinois
Office and jurisdiction
1833–1834
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
President
Andrew Johnson
Office and jurisdiction
Alderman, Greeneville, Tennessee
Year(s) served
1828–1830
Mayor of Greeneville, Tennessee
Mayor of Greeneville, Tennessee
President
Mayor of Greeneville, Tennessee
Office and jurisdiction
1834–1835
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
President
Grover Cleveland
Office and jurisdiction
Sheriff of Erie County, New York
Year(s) served
1871–1873
Mayor of Buffalo, New York
Mayor of Buffalo, New York
President
Mayor of Buffalo, New York
Office and jurisdiction
1882–1883
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
President
William Howard Taft
Office and jurisdiction
Judge on the Superior Court of Cincinnati
Year(s) served
1887–1890
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
President
Theodore Roosevelt
Office and jurisdiction
Superintendent of the New York Board of Police Commissioners
Year(s) served
1895–1897
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
President
Calvin Coolidge
Office and jurisdiction
Mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts
Year(s) served
1910–1911
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
President
Harry S. Truman
Office and jurisdiction
Judge of Jackson County, Missouri's Eastern District
Year(s) served
1923–1925
Presiding Judge of Jackson County, Missouri
Presiding Judge of Jackson County, Missouri
President
Presiding Judge of Jackson County, Missouri
Office and jurisdiction
1927–1935
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
President
Joe Biden
Office and jurisdiction
Member of the New Castle County, Delaware County Council
Year(s) served
1970–1972
| President | Office and jurisdiction | Year(s) served |
| George Washington | County surveyor in Mount Vernon | 1749–1751 |
| Martin Van Buren | Surrogate of Columbia County, New York | 1808–1812 |
| Abraham Lincoln | Postmaster of New Salem, Illinois | 1832–1833 |
| County Surveyor for Sangamon County, Illinois | 1833–1834 | |
| Andrew Johnson | Alderman, Greeneville, Tennessee | 1828–1830 |
| Mayor of Greeneville, Tennessee | 1834–1835 | |
| Grover Cleveland | Sheriff of Erie County, New York | 1871–1873 |
| Mayor of Buffalo, New York | 1882–1883 | |
| William Howard Taft | Judge on the Superior Court of Cincinnati | 1887–1890 |
| Theodore Roosevelt | Superintendent of the New York Board of Police Commissioners | 1895–1897 |
| Calvin Coolidge | Mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts | 1910–1911 |
| Harry S. Truman | Judge of Jackson County, Missouri's Eastern District | 1923–1925 |
| Presiding Judge of Jackson County, Missouri | 1927–1935 | |
| Joe Biden | Member of the New Castle County, Delaware County Council | 1970–1972 |
· Presidents who had not previously held elective office › With previous experience in government
Ulysses S. Grant
1867
1867–1868
Ulysses S. Grant
President
Ulysses S. Grant
Term of office
1867–1868
Notes
Acting Secretary of War
Herbert Hoover
1929
1929–1933
Herbert Hoover
President
Herbert Hoover
Term of office
1929–1933
Notes
Secretary of Commerce
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Term of office
1945
Notes
Military governor of the American occupation zone in Germany
| President | Term of office | Notes |
| Ulysses S. Grant | 1867–1868 | Acting Secretary of War |
| Herbert Hoover | 1929–1933 | Secretary of Commerce |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | 1945 | Military governor of the American occupation zone in Germany |
· Presidents who had not previously held elective office › With previous experience in the military
Major General Zachary Taylor
1849
1849–1850
Major General Zachary Taylor
President
Major General Zachary Taylor
Term of office
1849–1850
Position(s)
Major general in the United States Army
General of the Army of the United States Ulysses S. Grant
1869
1869–1877
General of the Army of the United States Ulysses S. Grant
President
General of the Army of the United States Ulysses S. Grant
Term of office
1869–1877
Position(s)
Commanding General of the United States Army (1864–1869)
General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower
1953
1953–1961
General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower
President
General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower
Term of office
1953–1961
Position(s)
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1951–1952)
| President | Term of office | Position(s) |
| Major General Zachary Taylor | 1849–1850 | Major general in the United States Army |
| General of the Army of the United States Ulysses S. Grant | 1869–1877 | Commanding General of the United States Army (1864–1869) |
| General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower | 1953–1961 | Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1951–1952) |
· Presidents who had not previously held elective office › Without previous experience in government or the military
Donald Trump
2017
2017–2021
Donald Trump
President
Donald Trump
Term of office
2017–2021, 2025–present
Notes
Chairman of The Trump Organization
| President | Term of office | Notes |
| Donald Trump | 2017–2021, 2025–present | Chairman of The Trump Organization |
· Colonial governments › Colonial and confederate legislators
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Legislature
Thomas Jefferson
President
1769–1774
| Legislature | President | Year(s) served | Notes |
| Confederate Congress | John Tyler | 1861–1862 | Delegate to the Provisional Confederate Congress and elected to the House of Representatives of the Confederate Congress of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, but died before entering office |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | John Adams | 1768–1774 | All served as regular members of their colonial legislature under the Kingdom of Great Britain before 1776. |
| Virginia House of Burgesses | George Washington | 1758–1774 | |
| Thomas Jefferson | 1769–1774 |