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Senators Who Became President

WarrenHarding



To date, sixteen 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.  

(Photo: Warren G. Harding. Senate Historical Office)

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James Monroe

Senator, 1790-1794

President, 1817-1825

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John Quincy Adams

Senator, 1803-1808

President, 1825-1829

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Andrew Jackson

Senator, 1797-1798; 1823-1825

President, 1829-1837

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Martin Van Buren

Senator, 1821-1828

President, 1837-1841

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William Henry Harrison

Senator, 1825-1828

President, 1841

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John Tyler

Senator, 1827-1836

President, 1841-1845

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Franklin Pierce

Senator, 1837-1842

President, 1853-1857

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James Buchanan

Senator, 1834-1845

President, 1857-1861

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Andrew Johnson

Senator, 1857-1862; 1875

President, 1865-1869

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Benjamin Harrison

Senator, 1881-1887

President, 1889-1893

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Warren G. Harding

Senator, 1915-1921

President, 1921-1923

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Harry S. Truman

Senator, 1935-1945

President, 1945-1953

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John F. Kennedy

Senator, 1953-1960

President, 1961-1963

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Lyndon B. Johnson

Senator, 1949-1961

President, 1963-1969

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Richard M. Nixon

Senator, 1950-1953

President, 1969-1974

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Barack Obama

Senator, 2005-2008

President, 2009- present

 

 
  

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Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

The Directory provides information about former and current senators.

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