Throughout US history, vice presidents have often sought the highest office in the land. While many have tried, only a select few have succeeded. Since the founding of the United States, 49 individuals have served as vice president. Of these, 29 have formally sought their party’s presidential nomination. This trend, however, has evolved over time, says PEW Research Centre.
EARLY VICE PRESIDENTS
Before the 1930s, it was less common for vice presidents to seek the presidency. Many opted to retire or return to lower elected offices after their vice-presidential terms. Notable exceptions include John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt, all of whom served as vice presidents before becoming president.
MODERN ERA: VICE PRESIDENTS PURSUING THE PRESIDENCY
Starting with Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first term in 1933, the trend shifted. Fifteen of the eighteen vice presidents since then have launched presidential campaigns.
SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS
Out of these fifteen, only five succeeded in their bids for the presidency:
- Harry Truman: Took office after FDR’s death in 1945, elected in 1948.
- Lyndon Johnson: Assumed presidency after JFK’s assassination in 1963, elected in 1964.
- Richard Nixon: Lost in 1960, won in 1968.
- George H.W. Bush: Elected in 1988.
- Joe Biden: Elected in 2020 after serving as vice president from 2009-2017.
Truman and Johnson first assumed the presidency following the deaths of their predecessors and then won elections in their own right.
Nixon lost his first presidential bid in 1960 but succeeded in 1968. Biden chose not to run in 2016 but won in 2020.
UNSUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS AND CHALLENGES
Many vice presidents who sought the presidency did not succeed in their endeavours.
NOTABLE NOMINEES WHO LOST
- Henry Wallace: Ran as the Progressive Party nominee in 1948.
- Walter Mondale: Democratic nominee in 1984.
- Al Gore: Democratic nominee in 2000, won the popular vote but lost in the Electoral College.
VICE PRESIDENTS WHO FAILED TO SECURE NOMINATIONS
- John Nance Garner: Challenged FDR in 1940, lost the Democratic nomination.
- Alben Barkley: Withdrew from the 1952 Democratic race.
- Hubert Humphrey: Secured the nomination in 1968 but lost to Nixon, failed to secure the nomination in 1972.
- Dan Quayle: Briefly ran in 2000 but withdrew early.
- Mike Pence: Ran for the 2024 Republican nomination but suspended his campaign before primary votes were cast.
Vice Presidency as a Stepping Stone
The role of the vice president has often been seen as a stepping stone to the presidency. While many have pursued this path, success has been limited. Modern vice presidents are more likely to seek the presidency than their predecessors, reflecting changes in political dynamics and ambitions.
As history shows, the journey from vice president to president is fraught with challenges, and only a few have managed to achieve this significant political leap.
