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Martin Van Buren

Political Offices

When did Van Buren become a national politician?

This process began when Van Buren defeated incumbent Nathan Sanford in February 1821, to gain a seat in the U.S. Senate. It was during his time in the Senate that he worked with John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jackson, making political contacts that would ensure his rise up the ladder. He later became the Senate majority leader in 1827.