Fourteen Presidents served as a Vice President before they became a President. Interesting how being Vice President worked out for them.
Vice Presidents who became President on the death of another President, but never got elected themselves:
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John Tyler Became President on the death of WH Harrison (1841-1845)
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Millard Fillmore Became President on the death of Zachary Taylor (1850-1853)
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Andrew Johnson Became President on the death of Abraham Lincoln (1865 – 1869)
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Chester Arthur Became President on the death of James Garfield (1881 – 1885)
The Vice President who became President but were not elected as Vice President on the original ticket (25th Amendment of the Constitution states that a Vice President shall be replaced if he is removed, resigns, or dies in office) (he was never elected President on his own):
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Gerald Ford (he replaced Vice President Spiro Agnew, who resigned, then President Richard Nixon resigned) President from 1974 – 1977
Vice Presidents who became President on the death of a President, but were elected by their own rights, too:
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Teddy Roosevelt (Became President on the death of William McKinley) Elected on his own in 1904
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Calvin Coolidge (Became President on the death of Warren Harding) Elected on his own in 1924
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Harry Truman (Became President on the death of Franklin Roosevelt) Elected on his own in 1948
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Lyndon Johnson (Became President on the death of John F. Kennedy) Elected on his own in 1964
Vice Presidents who became President by being elected on their own:
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John Adams (Was Vice President under President George Washington) Elected President in 1796
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Thomas Jefferson (Was Vice President under President John Adams) Elected President in 1800 & 1804
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Martin Van Buren (Was Vice President under President Andrew Jackson) Elected President in 1836
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Richard Nixon (Was Vice President under President Dwight Eisenhower) Elected President in 1968 & 1972 (resigned in 1974)
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George HW Bush (Was Vice President under President Ronald Reagan) Elected President in 1988
