you dont have to be, or any office for that matter. But it would probably help
The answer is that several presidents had not previously held elected public office before becoming President: Zachary Taylor, U.S. Grant, William Howard Taft [although he was governor-general of the Philippines], Herbert Hoover, and Dwight Eisenhower. This now includes Donald Trump.
Jefferson was a farmer, a lawyer and a scientist in private life. He also had a long and leading career as a public servant before he was President.
He was a lawyer before he held any public office, and he also fought in the Army in the Civil War. Before he was president, he was the governor of Ohio.
Margaret Nasha is the Minister in the Office of the President Responsible for Public Service of Botswana.
during the president's first year in office
He was a tailor before he entered public servant. As an elected official, he held virtually every available office from city alderman and mayor on up the senator.
The President, and then the U.S. Senate approves then.
President Lincoln held the public offices of: US President US Congressman from Illinois and State Congressman or State Assembly in Illinois.
Hold a high public office before: Vice-presidents, members of Congress, state governors or top federal executives, army generals.
Ronald Reagan was the first and so far the only US President to have ever been divorced. He was divorced many years before he ran for public office.
To date, there has never been a ban on showbiz personalities from running for any kind of public office. Ronald Reagan, a former actor, reached the highest level by becoming President of the United States in 1980 and 1984. As long as the Constitutional requirements are met, anyone can run for President.
Because he wanted to be president of the united states.