Ohio, known as the “Mother of Presidents,” has a proud history of producing seven U.S. presidents: Ulysses Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding. Additionally, William Henry Harrison, although born in Virginia, spent much of his life in Ohio.
The last Ohio-connected president was Warren G. Harding, who served from 1921 to 1923. With potential 2020 candidates like U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and former Ohio Governor John Kasich, there’s renewed interest in whether the next president could come from Ohio.
Cincinnati Edition explored Ohio’s significant contributions to American leadership with insights from Miami University’s Professor of History Steven Conn, local historian Dan Hurley, and WVXU Senior Political Analyst Howard Wilkinson.
To further celebrate Ohio’s presidential legacy, TourismOhio and Ohio History Connection have introduced the Ohio Presidential Trail. This new initiative highlights the birthplaces and important sites related to Ohio’s presidents, showcasing the state’s rich political heritage.