Thanks - did not know that about Polk. Still, only one case of it happening in 220 years doesn’t suggest the Speakership is a strong vaulting point for the Presidency.
Well, there’s Lincoln.
sorry, I wasn’t clear - I meant that Garfield was the only President elected while serving in the House. I see that Polk, for instance, wasn’t in the House when he was elected, but Governor of Tennessee. Madision of course also served in the House, in the First Congress. But was there any Representative elected President, other that Garfield?
There’s still time - Newt could join the army, work his way up to four-star General.
A nitpick, but Polk was not the Governor at the time he was elected President. His last day in office as Governor had been October 15, 1841 and he was elected President three years later in 1844.
You could technically argue Ford would qualify. He was never a Governor or Senator. He was a thirteen-term Representative when he was appointed Vice President and then became President after Nixon’s resignation.
You’re right - I misread the wiki page - thanks!