Occupational Firsts
The presidential firsts related to the occupation and previous government roles of the Presidents of the United States.
Please visit the Other Political Offices Held and Occupations fact pages to learn more about the presidents' pre-presidential work.
| Presidents | |
|---|---|
| First president to have served as an ambassador to a foreign country | John Adams |
| First president to have served as Vice President | John Adams |
| First president to win election as a non-incumbent Vice President | Richard M. Nixon |
| First president to have served as Secretary of State | Thomas Jefferson |
| First president to have served as Governor | Thomas Jefferson |
| First president to have served as member of the House of Representatives | James Madison |
| First president to have served as Speaker of the House of Representatives | James K. Polk |
| First president to win election as a current member of the House of Representatives | James A. Garfield |
| First president to have served as a Senator | James Monroe |
| First president to win election as a current Senator | Warren G. Harding |
| First president to serve in Congress after his presidency | John Quincy Adams |
| First president to serve in the Senate after his presidency | Andrew Johnson |
| First president who had not served in any previous elected office | Zachary Taylor |
| First president to have been head of a union | Ronald Reagan |
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