Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Van Buren, and Buchanan were all Secretary of State before being elected President. (In Van Buren's case, he was SoS for part of Jackson's first term, then VP for Jackson's second term.) For a while that seemed to be the natural stepping-stone to the Presidency, which may be part of the reason for Jackson's anger when JQA made Henry Clay Secretary of State, after Clay had helped JQA win the election in the House of Representatives.
I'll try to remember your name when I can't find information! Thank you!
"Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Van Buren, and Buchanan were all Secretary of State before being elected President. (In Van Buren's case, he was SoS for part of Jackson's first term, then VP for Jackson's second term.) For a while that seemed to be the natural stepping-stone to the Presidency, which may be part of the reason for Jackson's anger when JQA made Henry Clay Secretary of State, after Clay had helped JQA win the election in the House of Representatives."
But every single one of those Secy. of State-turned Presidents were also elected multiple times to the House and/or Senate before running for President (and/or were elected to serve in the Constitutional Convention, for Madison and Monroe). Condi has the Secy. of State credentials but has never served in elected office.
I love Condi as Secy. of State, I think she's a great representative of our country, but she just wouldn't do as our nominee. The lack of electoral experience is one problem, but she's also pro-abortion *and* pro-affirmative action. Those are two of the things (along with massive uncontrolled immigration) that are destroying the United States, and it's a big reason that so many people have become Republicans in the past five years. The vast majority of GOP and independent that I know-- men and women, multiple races-- would not vote for Condi. Nor would I. She's excellent in the Cabinet, but not a particularly good idea as a nominee.