President Joe Biden exemplifies a career politician, commencing his political journey by winning a seat on the New Castle County Council in Delaware in 1970. Subsequently, in 1972, he unseated Republican incumbent J. Caleb Boggs to secure the position of junior U.S. senator from Delaware. Biden continued his tenure in the Senate until he was chosen as Barack Obama’s running mate in the 2008 election.
Contrastingly, not every U.S. president boasts a political career as extensive as Biden’s.
Out of the 46 presidents, 32 have had prior military experience, with nine achieving the rank of general. Moreover, 27 presidents, including notable figures like Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, William Howard Taft, Franklin Roosevelt, and Barack Obama, had backgrounds in law. Taft, in a unique trajectory, went on to become the tenth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, holding the distinction of serving in both esteemed positions.
Political Background Diversity
While the president of the United States typically emerges from the executive branch, a significant number have transitioned from the legislative sphere.
Among the 18 presidents who formerly served as United States Representatives to Congress, only James A. Garfield was a Congressman immediately before assuming the presidency.
Notably, two presidents returned to Congress post their presidential terms. John Quincy Adams notably served as a U.S. Representative, while John Tyler’s congressional career veered towards the Provisional Confederate Congress, later securing a seat in the Confederate House of Representatives, albeit posthumously.
Seventeen presidents, Biden included, previously held positions in the United States Senate, with only three serving immediately before their presidential election. This select group encompasses Biden’s predecessor, President Obama. Andrew Johnson stands as the sole former president to transition to the Senate, having also served as governor of Tennessee before and during the Civil War.
Gubernatorial Experience
A total of 20 presidents had gubernatorial backgrounds, with 17 serving as state governors. Exceptions include William Henry Harrison and Taft, who governed territories, and Andrew Jackson, who assumed a military governor role in Florida before its statehood.
Vice Presidential Pathways
Fifteen presidents had prior vice presidential stints, with Richard Nixon and Joe Biden being the exceptions, not holding the vice presidency immediately before their presidential terms.
Among these, eight ascended to the presidency following the incumbent’s demise, while Gerald R. Ford’s presidency ensued Nixon’s resignation. However, Ford and four others failed to secure reelection.
In a historical context, no vice president has directly challenged a sitting president since Vice President Thomas Jefferson’s successful bid against President John Adams in 1800.
Unconventional Trajectories
Former President Donald Trump joins a select group of five presidents who ventured into public office directly through the presidential route, bypassing prior electoral positions. This cohort includes Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant, Herbert Hoover, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Notably, Taylor, Grant, and Eisenhower, with military backgrounds, achieved notable victories in the Mexican–American War, Civil War, and World War II respectively. Hoover, on the other hand, served in the United States Department of Commerce.
It’s worth mentioning that Grant and Eisenhower ascended to the prestigious rank of General of the Army, mirroring Washington’s role as Commander in Chief during the War of Independence.
Diverse Professional Backgrounds
While Jimmy Carter’s legacy is associated with peanut farming, he shares this agricultural connection with Harry S. Truman, who also cultivated crops in his youth. Additionally, Founding Father John Adams balanced a legal career with farming responsibilities. Although several presidents engaged in farming, the historical context of slavery significantly influenced their agricultural pursuits.
Academic Ventures
Five presidents, including Garfield, Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Bill Clinton, and Obama, ventured into academia, with Biden assuming the role of Benjamin Franklin Presidential Professor of the Practice at the University of Pennsylvania during his transition from vice president to presidential candidate. Biden’s involvement primarily included participation in panel discussions rather than traditional teaching duties.
Post-Presidential Pursuits
John Quincy Adams notably reentered the House of Representatives post his presidency, earning the moniker “Father of the House” during his nine-term service until his passing in 1848.
Modern-day retirement for former presidents is facilitated by the Former Presidents Act, offering a pension, staff, office, medical insurance, and Secret Service protection for a decade post-presidency. While some presidents embraced leisure post their term, others remained actively engaged.
Washington’s entrepreneurial venture into whisky distillation, Jefferson’s establishment of the University of Virginia, Eisenhower’s foray into cattle farming, and Carter’s philanthropic work with Habitat for Humanity International exemplify the diverse post-presidential pursuits.
Artistic Expressions
Recent presidents like Obama, Clinton, and George W. Bush explored artistic avenues post-presidency. Obama ventured into film production, Clinton secured Grammy Awards for his spoken-word albums, and Bush pursued painting, showcasing their artistic inclinations beyond politics.
Unconventional Exploration
Theodore Roosevelt’s post-presidential career stood out for its adventurous spirit. Following his 1912 electoral defeat, Roosevelt embarked on a perilous expedition with his son into the Brazilian jungles, navigating the uncharted River of Doubt. This expedition, marked by challenges and health setbacks, reflected Roosevelt’s unwavering determination and adventurous ethos.