You’d think the second-highest office in the land would be a straightforward gig. It isn’t. Most people look at a list of presidents with vice presidents and see a neat, orderly progression of power. They see a president, they see the partner, and they assume it was a smooth ride. That’s rarely how it actually went down.
In reality, the history of the American executive branch is a messy, sometimes violent, and often accidental saga. We’ve had vice presidents who hated their bosses. We’ve had vice presidents who killed people while in office—looking at you, Aaron Burr. We’ve even had long stretches where the office was just... empty. Nobody sitting in the chair at all.
The Modern Reality: JD Vance and the Current Seat
As of 2026, the man in that seat is JD Vance. He took the oath on January 20, 2025, serving under Donald Trump. It’s a pairing that highlights how much the role has changed. Back in the day, the Vice President was basically the runner-up in the election. Imagine if the person who lost the Super Bowl had to be the assistant coach for the winner. That’s how it started. Today, it’s a strategic partnership, though the tension of being "one heartbeat away" never really leaves the room.
Why the List of Presidents with Vice Presidents is Weirder Than You Think
History books sanitize things. They give you a table and tell you to memorize it. But if you actually dig into the list of presidents with vice presidents, the anomalies are what matter.
Take John Tyler. He was the first guy to jump from the VP spot to the presidency because the guy above him, William Henry Harrison, died just a month into the job. People actually called Tyler "His Accidency." They didn't think he had the right to be president. He had no vice president of his own for his entire term. Imagine running the country alone while everyone tells you that you're a temp.
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Then there’s the John C. Calhoun situation. He is one of only two people to serve as Vice President under two different presidents (John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson). He also became the first to resign. He didn't leave for a better job; he left because he and Jackson reached a point where they basically couldn't be in the same room without a constitutional crisis breaking out.
The "Empty Chair" Eras
Believe it or not, the Vice Presidency has been vacant for a total of nearly 38 years throughout American history.
How?
Before the 25th Amendment was ratified in 1967, if a Vice President died or moved up to the Presidency, the office stayed empty until the next election. When Harry Truman took over for Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, there was no Vice President for nearly four years. The seat just gathered dust while Truman handled the end of World War II.
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The Full Historical List of Presidents with Vice Presidents
If you're looking for the data, here is the actual flow of the executive branch from the start to the present day.
The Early Republic (1789–1825)
The first few pairings were legendary, mostly because they were rivals. George Washington had John Adams. Adams then had Thomas Jefferson—his political enemy—as his VP. Jefferson’s first term featured Aaron Burr, who famously shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel while still in office. Jefferson swapped him for George Clinton in his second term. Clinton stayed on to serve under James Madison, becoming the first VP to die in office. Madison’s second VP, Elbridge Gerry (the guy who gave us "gerrymandering"), also died in office. Talk about a cursed position. James Monroe finally got a full eight years of stability with Daniel D. Tompkins.
The Era of Turmoil (1825–1861)
John Quincy Adams worked with John C. Calhoun. Then Andrew Jackson took over, kept Calhoun for a bit, but then switched to Martin Van Buren after the "Petticoat Affair" blew up the cabinet. Van Buren eventually became President with Richard Mentor Johnson as his number two. Then came the short-lived William Henry Harrison (VP John Tyler). After Tyler’s "accidental" term, James K. Polk served with George M. Dallas. Zachary Taylor died in office, leaving Millard Fillmore to finish the term without a VP. Franklin Pierce saw his VP, William R. King, die just weeks after the inauguration. James Buchanan rounded out the pre-Civil War era with John C. Breckinridge, who later joined the Confederacy.
Civil War to the Turn of the Century (1861–1901)
Abraham Lincoln had Hannibal Hamlin first, then Andrew Johnson. After Lincoln’s assassination, Johnson served alone. Ulysses S. Grant had two: Schuyler Colfax and Henry Wilson (who died in office). Rutherford B. Hayes worked with William A. Wheeler. James A. Garfield was assassinated, putting Chester A. Arthur in charge with no VP. Grover Cleveland (Term 1) had Thomas Hendricks, who died in office. Benjamin Harrison had Levi P. Morton. Cleveland came back for Term 2 with Adlai Stevenson. William McKinley had Garret Hobart (died in office) and then a young Theodore Roosevelt.
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The 20th Century Giants (1901–1969)
Teddy Roosevelt served with Charles Fairbanks. William Howard Taft had James Sherman, the last VP to die in office to date. Woodrow Wilson had Thomas Marshall. Warren G. Harding died, leaving Calvin Coolidge to take over (initially with no VP, then with Charles Dawes). Herbert Hoover worked with Charles Curtis, the first VP of Native American descent. FDR famously had three: John Nance Garner, Henry Wallace, and Harry Truman. Dwight Eisenhower had Richard Nixon for two full terms. JFK had Lyndon B. Johnson, who took over after the tragedy in Dallas and eventually chose Hubert Humphrey.
The Modern Era (1969–Present)
Richard Nixon had Spiro Agnew, who resigned in disgrace, and then Gerald Ford. When Nixon resigned, Ford became President and appointed Nelson Rockefeller. Jimmy Carter had Walter Mondale, who arguably invented the modern, active role of the VP. Ronald Reagan had George H.W. Bush, who then became President with Dan Quayle. Bill Clinton had Al Gore. George W. Bush had Dick Cheney. Barack Obama had Joe Biden. Donald Trump had Mike Pence. Joe Biden had Kamala Harris. And now, we have the Trump-Vance administration.
Surprising Facts About the Pairings
It's kinda wild when you look at the stats. Only 15 vice presidents have ever become president. Of those, eight got the job because the president died, and one (Ford) got it because the president resigned. Honestly, the "stepping stone" isn't as reliable as people think.
- The Double Hit: Only two men served as VP under two different presidents: George Clinton and John C. Calhoun.
- The Nobel Winners: Three Vice Presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Dawes, and Al Gore.
- The Shortest Term: William R. King served only 45 days. He was so sick he had to be sworn in while in Cuba, and he died shortly after returning to the U.S.
What This Means for You
Understanding the list of presidents with vice presidents isn't just about trivia. It’s about understanding the "spare tire" of democracy. Most of these men and women were chosen to balance a ticket—to get votes in a state the president couldn't win on his own. They weren't always friends. They weren't always aligned.
If you are researching this for a project or just out of curiosity, focus on the transitions. The moments where the VP had to step up are the moments where American history changed the most.
Actionable Steps for Further Research:
- Check the 25th Amendment: If you want to see how the rules changed for filling vacancies, read the text of the 25th Amendment. It's the reason we no longer have "empty chair" years.
- Visit the Senate Website: The U.S. Senate maintains the most historically accurate, updated list of vice presidents because the VP technically serves as the President of the Senate.
- Explore the "VEEP" Role Evolution: Look into the 1970s (Mondale era) to see how the job shifted from a ceremonial "ribbon-cutter" to a genuine policy advisor.