Do you have to be a member of a political party to be president?

No. But under the current political party system, these are the senior members of the state or national parties, and normally have the most experience with the government of the country or of a state.

However, name recognition and charisma can also boost a candidate, as it did with Jimmy Carter in 1976, Ronald Reagan in 1980, and Barack Obama in 2008. Carter served 3 years in the Georgia Senate and 5 years as governor. Reagan served 8 years as governor of California. Obama served 7 years in the Illinois Senate and 3 as US Senator.