ABSTRACT David Ben-Gurion played a pivotal role in shaping Israel’s political institutions, yet scholarly literature concerning his views on the Israeli presidency is notably lacking. Traditionally, his perception of the presidency has been portrayed as deeming it ‘unnecessary’. However, such portrayals are limited, focusing on isolated moments rather than encompassing his entire political career. This research aims to address this gap by examining Ben-Gurion’s relationship with presidential candidacies from 1949 to 1963. Through this analysis, it seeks to elucidate the evolution of his perceptions, articulations, and conceptualizations of the presidency in Israel over time.