US Presidential Election 2024: Can Kamala Harris become the 7th ...

1 / 15

The vice presidency is often seen as the VIP lounge of politics, where aspirations for the top job can easily fade away. From 1789 to 2021, out of 49 vice presidents, only 15 have ascended to the presidency. Eight of those took over due to unfortunate deaths, while Gerald R Ford stepped up after Nixon resigned. Just six vice presidents have won the office through an election. Could Kamala Harris be the seventh? Let’s take a look at the most recent vice presidents who defied the odds to secure the presidency. (Image: Shutterstock)

2 / 15

Joe Biden | Joe Biden, a long-time Delaware senator and familiar face in Washington, took a few shots at the presidency before Barack Obama chose him as a running mate in 2008. In 2016, he opted out of the race, influenced in part by the loss of his son Beau to cancer. But in 2020, Biden built a diverse coalition, earning over 81 million votes and finally claiming the nation’s highest office. (Image: Reuters)

3 / 15

George HW Bush | George HW Bush brought an impressive resume to the table – he served as Ronald Reagan's vice president, was a WWII Navy pilot, twice a congressman, UN Ambassador, GOP chair, liaison to China, and CIA director. In 1988, he handily defeated Mike Dukakis to win the presidency. With the Cold War winding down and a successful campaign to oust Saddam from Kuwait, his popularity soared. However, an economic slump, discontent from the far right, and the appeal of Bill Clinton turned his re-election bid into an unsuccessful uphill battle. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

4 / 15

Gerald R Ford | In a political twist that reads like a drama script, Gerald Ford, a seasoned congressman from Michigan, stepped into the vice presidency in 1973 after Spiro Agnew resigned in a corruption scandal. By the summer of 1974, Ford was unexpectedly thrust into the presidency when Richard Nixon chose resignation over impeachment. Only a month in, Ford issued a full pardon for Nixon – a decision that stirred significant backlash among the American people. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

5 / 15

Richard Nixon | Richard Nixon, a Californian who rose from Congress to become Dwight Eisenhower's VP, faced a tough defeat in 1960 against John F Kennedy. Yet, he made a comeback in 1968, narrowly winning the presidency over Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace. By 1972, Nixon decisively defeated antiwar candidate George McGovern. During his tenure, he ended the draft, established the EPA, and opened diplomatic relations with China. But then came the scandal that overshadowed it all – Watergate. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

6 / 15

Lyndon B Johnson | Lyndon Johnson, a Texan and former Senate majority leader, unexpectedly moved up to the vice presidency when John F Kennedy (JFK) won in 1960. Johnson largely stayed in the background until November 1963, when JFK was assassinated during their Dallas visit. Johnson, just two cars back, narrowly escaped harm and was sworn in on Air Force One. In 1964, he won the presidency decisively against Barry Goldwater. Johnson pushed major reforms, expanding the social safety net with Medicare, funding for education, urban renewal, and landmark civil rights legislation. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

7 / 15

Harry S Truman | Harry Truman, a Missouri farm boy who couldn’t get into West Point due to bad eyesight, joined the National Guard and served in World War I. Afterwards, he won a US Senate seat and, as WWII neared its end, was chosen by Franklin Roosevelt as vice president. Just three months into the role, Truman assumed the presidency upon Roosevelt's death. Despite a modest educational background, Truman made pivotal decisions, including the use of atomic bombs, to conclude the war. He took a firm stance against the Soviet Union and Communist China as the Cold War began. Though high inflation and shortages hurt his popularity, he still won a surprising re-election victory in 1948. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

8 / 15

Calvin Coolidge | Calvin Coolidge, a reserved Vermont native, rose from Massachusetts governor to Warren Harding’s vice president in 1920. When Harding passed away in 1923, Coolidge took the oath from his father, a justice of the peace, in a simple ceremony. Known for his stoic demeanour, Coolidge easily won the 1924 election with the slogan “Keep Cool with Coolidge.” He championed trickle-down economics, cutting taxes for the wealthy, but turned a blind eye to the speculative frenzy on Wall Street that led to the 1929 crash under Hoover. In 1928, he surprised everyone by announcing his decision not to run again with a single, terse line, offering no further explanation. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

9 / 15

Theodore Roosevelt | Teddy Roosevelt, a fitness fanatic and Spanish-American War hero shook things up as governor of New York. Thinking they’d keep him quiet, the GOP placed him on the ticket as William McKinley’s VP in 1900. However, when McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Roosevelt suddenly found himself in the Oval Office. Initially, he kept his progressive ambitions in check, appeasing industrialists. However, after his sweeping re-election in 1904, Roosevelt launched his "Square Deal," pushing for industry regulations and setting aside 200 million acres for conservation. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

10 / 15

Chester A. Arthur | Chester Arthur, a Vermont-born school principal turned lawyer, had limited political experience aside from a stint as a New York customs collector, where he helped fund GOP interests. When James Garfield chose him as running mate in 1880 to balance the ticket, Arthur’s role seemed merely symbolic. But after Garfield’s assassination in 1881, Arthur unexpectedly became president. Initially dismissed as a political insider, he defied expectations by championing civil service reforms. However, he also signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, restricting Chinese immigrants from citizenship. By 1884, he had lost his party's nomination for another term. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

11 / 15

Andrew Johnson | Andrew Johnson, a Tennessean, navigated the political landscape of Congress by supporting states' rights and slavery while opposing Southern secession in 1861. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln selected him as his running mate for the “Union” party. However, tragedy struck in 1865 when Lincoln was assassinated, and Johnson, who had been targeted for death himself, ascended to the presidency. In 1868, he became the first president to be impeached, with the House voting 126 to 47 in favour of his removal. He narrowly avoided conviction by just one vote, allowing him to complete his term. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

12 / 15

Millard Fillmore | In 1848, the Whig Party nominated southern slaveholder General Zachary Taylor as their candidate, aiming to balance the ticket with northern Millard Fillmore. Remarkably, the two didn’t meet until after their victory, and when they finally did, their chemistry was nonexistent. Taylor sidelined Fillmore throughout his presidency. Fast forward to 1850, after Taylor died in office, Fillmore found himself in charge. He attempted a political comeback in 1856 but failed, dragging the Whig Party down with him. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

13 / 15

John Tyler | John Tyler, a prominent figure from Virginia, became vice president in 1840 alongside William Henry Harrison. However, just 32 days into Harrison's presidency, he died, and Tyler ascended to the highest office. Tyler kept Harrison's cabinet in place to maintain stability, but they quickly left when he vetoed the Bank of the United States bill. By 1844, Tyler chose not to seek re-election. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

14 / 15

Martin Van Buren | Martin Van Buren, a shrewd politician from New York, served as Secretary of State under Andrew Jackson, skillfully navigating the administration's challenges. He became vice president during Jackson's second term (1833-1837). In 1836, he ran as the Democratic candidate and won against three Whig contenders. Unfortunately, his presidency was brief; the economy faltered in 1840, leading to his defeat by Whig candidate William Henry Harrison. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

15 / 15

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson | George Washington secured a decisive victory in the first presidential election of 1789, earning 69 electoral votes. In an unexpected turn, his opponent, John Adams, became vice president despite his loss. By 1796, Adams ascended to the presidency, resulting in a government led by a president and vice president from opposing parties. This dynamic set the stage for the contentious election of 1800, where Thomas Jefferson ultimately emerged victorious. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)