How close to the Presidency has a Mormon politician come?

Question

I didn't mean to phrase this question like a joke. I'm just wondering if there has been a Mormon VP or Speaker of the House or Cabinet-member, or if there has been a Mormon Presidential candidate before Romney. They make a big issue of his religion, so has this issue been around before?

Orrin Hatch is a senior LDS senator, but not in the line of succession to the presidency in his current position.

Answer 1

George Romney, Mitts father, was in the Nixon Cabinet. Ezra Taft Benson was Secretary of Agriculture during the Eisenhower administration. He later became the prophet.

Answer 2

The other's are correct, Id like to add that there have been many Mormons in the Presidential Cabinet, even today. Other Mormon's have run for president in the past but there has never been a President or VP that was Mormon to date.

Although the church itself stays out of politics as much as it can, Many members still take their Mormon Morals and philosophies to politics.

Answer 3

Ezra Taft Benson was a VP. For president, the closest that I recall is Joseph Smith running for US president. This is described in Marriotts' biography and in the book The Mormon Murders.

Answer 4

Orrin Hatch is a high ranking Senator.

Answer 5

Joseph Smith ran for president some time in the 1800s. I think he got closer than Romney (so far)...

Also Orin Hatch ran at one point, but never got a nomination from his political party.

Answer 6

Harry Reid is the Senate Majority Leader and he is Mormon.

Answer 7

One of our prophets, Ezra Taft Benson, was Secretary of Agriculture under Eisenhower, I do believe. and this was while he was an apostle, one of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.