Skip Content
U.S. Flag
  
  

Senators Who Became President


To date, 16 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)

Name Years as Senator Years as President
Monroe, James 1790-1794 1817-1825
Adams, John Quincy 1803-1808 1825-1829
Jackson, Andrew 1797-1798; 1823-1825 1829-1837
Van Buren, Martin 1821-1828 1837-1841
Harrison, William Henry 1825-1828 1841
Tyler, John 1827-1836 1841-1845
Pierce, Franklin 1837-1842 1853-1857
Buchanan, James 1834-1845 1857-1861
Johnson, Andrew 1857-1862; 1875 1865-1869
Harrison, Benjamin 1881-1887 1889-1893
Harding, Warren G. 1915-1921 1921-1923
Truman, Harry S. 1935-1945 1945-1953
Kennedy, John F. 1953-1960 1961-1963
Johnson, Lyndon B. 1949-1961 1963-1969
Nixon, Richard M. 1950-1953 1969-1974
Obama, Barack 2005-2008 2009-2017