President Precendents
What do the following Presidents all have in common?

Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
James Monroe
John Quincey Adams
Martin Van Buren
James Buchanan
Ulysses S. Grant
William H. Taft
Herbert Hoover

All served in Cabinet positions before becoming Presidents. It seems a long time ago, experience in running a national governemnt was a pre-requisite.

Jefferson was Secretary of State under Washington
Madison was Secretary of State under Jefferson
Monroe was Secretary of War and then Secretary of State under Madison
Adams was Secretary of State under Monroe
Van Buren was Secretary of State under Jackson
Buchanan was Secretary of State under Polk
Grant was Secretary of War under Johnson
Taft was Secretary of War under T. Roosevelt
Hoover was Secretary of Commerce under Harding