Meet the 16 US Vice Presidents that Became President
Here’s a list of U.S. Vice Presidents who later became Presidents, along with a brief explanation of the circumstances and their party affiliations. Some due to assassination of the President, others because they ran after themselves after their VP service, and one resigned in embarrassment.
- John Adams (Federalist) – He served as Vice President under George Washington and became the 2nd President of the United States.
- Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) – Vice President under John Adams, he became the 3rd President.
- Martin Van Buren (Democratic) – Serving as Vice President under Andrew Jackson, he became the 8th President.
- John Tyler (Whig) – Vice President under William Henry Harrison, he assumed the presidency after Harrison’s death and became the 10th President.
- Millard Fillmore (Whig) – After Zachary Taylor’s death, Fillmore, the Vice President, became the 13th President.
- Franklin Pierce (Democratic) – He became the 14th President after serving as Vice President under Millard Fillmore.
- Andrew Johnson (Democratic/Unionist) – Vice President under Abraham Lincoln, he became the 17th President after Lincoln’s assassination.
- Chester A. Arthur (Republican) – Vice President under James A. Garfield, he became the 21st President following Garfield’s assassination.
- Theodore Roosevelt (Republican) – After serving as Vice President under William McKinley, he became the 26th President after McKinley’s assassination.
- Calvin Coolidge (Republican) – Vice President under Warren G. Harding, he became the 30th President upon Harding’s death.
- Harry S. Truman (Democratic) – Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt, he became the 33rd President after Roosevelt’s passing.
- Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic) – He succeeded to the presidency as the 36th President after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, under whom he served as Vice President.
- Richard Nixon (Republican) – Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower, he was elected as the 37th President.
- Gerald Ford (Republican) – He became the 38th President after Richard Nixon’s resignation, having been appointed as Vice President.
- George H. W. Bush (Republican) – Vice President under Ronald Reagan, he became the 41st President.
- Joe Biden (Democratic) – Serving as Vice President under Barack Obama, he became the 46th President.
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