# Has a mayor ever become President of the USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636 "2007-10-22T23:47:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/1 "2007-10-22T23:47:16Z")
Many presidents served as govenors prior to becoming presidents, but did any of them serve as a _mayor_? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/2 "2007-10-22T23:53:13Z")
Grover Cleveland was Mayor of Buffalo, then Governor of New York, then President, then not, then President again. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/3 "2007-10-23T00:02:15Z")
Hubert Humphrey was mayor of Minneapolis from 1945-49, and a Senator from Minnesota after that. He got as far as Vice President under LBJ, and a nomination (lost to Nixon in '68). ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/4 "2007-10-23T00:07:26Z")
Calvin Coolidge was also a mayor during his political career (Northampton, MA). In fact he may have taken more incremental steps towards the presidency than anybody else who ever held the office: > **[Calvin Coolidge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Coolidge)** > > Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; /ˈkuːlɪdʒ/; July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929. > Born in Vermont, Coolidge was a Republican lawyer from New England who climbed the ladder of Massachusetts politics, becoming the state's 48th governor. His response to the Boston Police Strike of 1919 thrust him into the national spotlight as a man of decisive action. The next year, Cooli... If the OP is asking about anybody proceeding DIRECTLY to the presidency from a position of mayor as their last elected office, I don’t believe so. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/5 "2007-10-23T00:29:48Z")
However, the fact that Giuliani is a serious contender is not without precedent, if that’s what prompted the question. Mayors of the big cities, like NY and LA, are in the realms of possibility, if they’re well enough known nationally. John Lindsay was in the running in 1972. He fizzled after the early primaries. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/6 "2007-10-23T01:48:07Z")
[Andrew Johnson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson) served as mayor of Greeneville, TN. He also held the offices of alderman, state representative, state senator, governor, U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and Vice President. The guy did it all. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/7 "2007-10-23T10:36:58Z")
[QUOTE=Number] [Andrew Johnson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson) served as mayor of Greeneville, TN. He also held the offices of alderman, state representative, state senator, governor, U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and Vice President. The guy did it all. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but he didn’t serve on the Supreme Court. What a slacker. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/8 "2007-10-23T11:41:06Z")
[QUOTE=yabob] However, the fact that Giuliani is a serious contender is not without precedent, if that’s what prompted the question. Mayors of the big cities, like NY and LA, are in the realms of possibility, if they’re well enough known nationally. John Lindsay was in the running in 1972. He fizzled after the early primaries. [/QUOTE] Sam Yorty, mayor of L.A. ran the same year in the Democratic primary in New Hampshire, got 6 % of the vote and later switched parties. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/9 "2007-10-23T17:19:54Z")
One factor is how big a job being a mayor is. New York City has a population of over eight million people, which makes it bigger than all but eleven states. Wyoming is the least populous state with about a half a million people and there are thirty two American cities that have a bigger population than Wyoming. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/10 "2007-10-23T17:23:45Z")
There have been a few, but I’m holding out for [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer). Former mayor of a major city in Ohio, which we all know is a real hotbed state for future Presidents. And he has done a good job of keeping a high profile since leaving office. I think his time has come. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/11 "2007-10-23T17:25:35Z")
[QUOTE=Number] [Andrew Johnson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson) served as mayor of Greeneville, TN. He also held the offices of alderman, state representative, state senator, governor, U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and Vice President. The guy did it all. [/QUOTE] Not that I don’t believe you, but I didn’t notice where, at the page you cited, it is said that Andrew Johnson served in the Tennessee state senate or the US House of Representatives. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/12 "2007-10-23T17:52:40Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] There have been a few, but I’m holding out for [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer). Former mayor of a major city in Ohio, which we all know is a real hotbed state for future Presidents. And he has done a good job of keeping a high profile since leaving office. I think his time has come. [/QUOTE] Is there an Ohio Senate seat up in 2008? He’s been making noises for the last several years about running for one. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/13 "2007-10-23T18:07:21Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] There have been a few, but I’m holding out for [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer). Former mayor of a major city in Ohio, which we all know is a real hotbed state for future Presidents. And he has done a good job of keeping a high profile since leaving office. I think his time has come. [/QUOTE] His sex scandal is behind him too. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/14 "2007-10-23T18:34:48Z")
> [@](#): > > His sex scandal is behind him too. And sometimes in the front, below, to the right, to the left and sandwiched in between. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/15 "2007-10-23T19:09:09Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] There have been a few, but I’m holding out for [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer). Former mayor of a major city in Ohio, which we all know is a real hotbed state for future Presidents. And he has done a good job of keeping a high profile since leaving office. I think his time has come. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but he isn’t a native-born US citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/16 "2007-10-23T19:13:19Z")
And no one even thinks to mention Dennis Kucinich? A former mayor of Cleveland, and he’s running _right now!_ George Voinovich, our senior U.S. senator, is also a former Cleveland mayor (he succeeded Kucinich) and has been mentioned as a possible VP candidate, but I think he’s probably too independent-minded for GOP kingmakers. In the movie _City Hall_, Al Pacino plays a charismatic mayor of NYC with White House ambitions. You might want to check it out, Rudy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/17 "2007-10-23T22:13:36Z")
> [@](#): > > And no one even thinks to mention Dennis Kucinich? I was considering it, but decided it’d be too snarky. And of course, he’s currently a Representative, not a mayor, which I presume is not an unprecedented jump to President. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/18 "2007-10-24T00:43:40Z")
[QUOTE=Arnold Winkelried] Not that I don’t believe you, but I didn’t notice where, at the page you cited, it is said that Andrew Johnson served in the Tennessee state senate or the US House of Representatives. [/QUOTE] At the bottom there are links to [Tennessee State Senators](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Tennessee_State_Senators) and [Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Members_of_the_Tennessee_House_of_Representatives). There used to be something in the main text of the article about the extraordinary number of public offices he held. I remember because it erroneously stated that he had been elected to every possible non-judicial position at the time. I corrected it to note that he succeeded to the Presidency and was not elected. A wasted effort, as the whole section apparently got excised at some point. Some non-wikipedia cites regarding the state legislatures: > **[American Presidents | Series | C-SPAN.org](https://www.c-span.org/series/?presidents)** > > Watch American Presidents full episodes, clips and more. [http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/bio/public/johnson.htm](http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/bio/public/johnson.htm) [http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=J016](http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=J016) ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/19 "2007-10-24T00:48:38Z")
Oops, you said US House of Representatives. Check the **Political offices** section of the wikipedia article. > [@](#): > > \*\*United States House of Representatives > Member from [Tennessee’s 1st congressional district\*\*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee%27s_1st_congressional_district) > March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1853. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-mayor-ever-become-president-of-the-usa/423636/20 "2007-10-24T01:41:53Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Is there an Ohio Senate seat up in 2008? [/QUOTE] No. He’d have to wait until 2010, when Voinovich is up for re-election.