The importance of being governor of the Empire State is very evident when you consider that FOUR governors went on to become President of the United States. SIX former governors would be Vice President of the United States (two of whom reached the highest office). SIX other former governors unsuccessfully ran for the Nation's highest office.

FORMER GOVERNORS WHO BECAME PRESIDENT

Martin Van Buren
Grover Cleveland
Theodore Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt

FORMER GOVERNORS WHO BECAME VICE PRESIDENT

George Clinton
Daniel D. Tompkins
Martin Van Buren
Levi P. Morton
Theodore Roosevelt
Nelson A. Rockefeller

FORMER GOVERNORS WHO UNSUCCESSFULLY RAN FOR PRESIDENT

DeWitt Clinton
Horatio Seymour
Samuel J. Tilden
Charles E. Hughes
Alfred E. Smith
Thomas E. Dewey