“....The vice presidency hasn’t been a pathway to the White House for 200 years. ...”
In modern times
Truman*, Johnson*, Nixon, Ford*, Bush, Biden
* Special case
Looks as good as any.
Truman, Johnson, and Ford assumed office when the presidency was vacant. Nixon ran as VP and lost, then ran again 8 years later. Biden did not run for the presidency as VP. The only one who went from VP to president via election is Bush. Prior to that you have to go back to Martin Van Buren.