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Senators Who Became President


To date, 17 senators have also served as president of the United States. Three senators, Warren G. Harding, John F. Kennedy, and Barack Obama, moved directly from the U.S. Senate to the White House.

NameYears as SenatorYears as President
MonroeJames Monroe (VA) 1790–17941817–1825
AdamsJohn Quincy Adams (MA) 1803–18081825–1829
JacksonAndrew Jackson (TN) 1797–1798; 1823–18251829–1837
Van BurenMartin Van Buren (NY) 1821–18281837–1841
HarrisonWilliam H. Harrison (OH) 1825–18281841
TylerJohn Tyler (VA) 1827–18361841–1845
PierceFranklin Pierce (NH) 1837–18421853–1857
BuchananJames Buchanan (PA) 1834–18451857–1861
JohnsonAndrew Johnson (TN) 1857–1862; 18751865–1869
HarrisonBenjamin Harrison (IN) 1881–18871889–1893
HardingWarren G. Harding (OH) 1915–19211921–1923
TrumanHarry S. Truman (MO) 1935–19451945–1953
KennedyJohn F. Kennedy (MA) 1953–19601961–1963
JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson (TX) 1949–19611963–1969
NixonRichard M. Nixon (CA) 1950–19531969–1974
ObamaBarack Obama (IL) 2005–20082009–2017
BidenJoe Biden (DE) 1973–20092021–present