Bill Bradley

One of the first pro-athlete-turned-politicians, Bill Bradley was also one of the few with bona fide intellectual credentials. A three-time All-American at Princeton, Bradley delayed his professional basketball career to spend two years at Oxford University on a Rhodes scholarship . Upon his return he joined the New York Knicks and played on their 1970 and 1973 championship teams. In 1978 he was elected to the U.S. Senate and served three terms. In January 1999 he announced his intention to run for president, aiming for the nomination from the Democratic Party. He was defeated in the 2000 primary elections by then Vice President Al Gore.

Extra credit: Bradley was captain of the 1964 U.S. Olympic basketball team.