What the U.S. Presidents Did Before Taking Office

  • Ronald Reagan at the pool
Ronald Reagan at the pool
Credit: John Kobal Foundation/ Moviepix via Getty Images

A look through the life journeys of all 45 people who have served as U.S. president reveals a general blueprint for ascending to the highest office in the land. Many spent a sizable chunk of their early careers in the military and/or as lawyers, before climbing the political ladder with increasingly prominent roles that garnered the national attention and support needed to make a successful run at the White House.

Of course, there is no one set path that leads to the presidency. Many future commanders in chief navigated unusual first jobs or failed ventures along the way. Here are nine early roles held by people who eventually became known for calling the shots from the Oval Office.

Credit: Jim West/ Alamy Stock Photo 

Abraham Lincoln: Tavern Owner

Abraham Lincoln held down an array of jobs during his young adult years in the town of New Salem, Illinois, although the one that often stands out to contemporary eyes is his stint as a tavern owner. To be specific, the venue Lincoln co-owned with his militia colleague William F. Berry was a “grocery,” a store that sold alcoholic beverages to be consumed on the premises. Because a license was needed for such transactions, Lincoln is sometimes described as the only licensed bartender to become president. Unfortunately, Berry supposedly spent too much time indulging in the liquor stockpile, and Lincoln sold his share of the store to his co-owner after less than a year. But the business relationship came back to haunt the future president when Berry died two years later, leaving Honest Abe responsible for the grocery’s debts.

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