Of the 49 vice presidents in U.S. history, nine — nearly one in five — have taken over the presidency through death or resignation.
The first president was John Tyler, who took office after William Henry Harrison died one month into his term. The most recent president was Gerald FordHe took office following the resignation of Richard Nixon.
Attention is focused on the vice presidential candidates of both parties in 2024.Democratic Vice President Kamala Harrisand Republican Senator J.D. Vance of OhioThe advanced age of the two presidential candidates, Assassination attempt on Republican candidate Donald Trump July 13. Vice presidents who held the highest office were instrumental in key moments in American history, including rebuilding America, dropping the atomic bomb to end World War II, and signing the Civil Rights Act.
“For most vice presidents, choosing a successor is something that has to be thought about and planned for, but it doesn’t actually happen,” said Joel Goldstein, a historian and expert on the vice presidency, “but when a successor comes along, you have to be prepared.”
