One could argue that despite appeals to the ideal of Cincinnatus that career politicians have been with America since its foundation.

We can for instance look at the careers of both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

Adams spent essentially 25 unbroken years holding politically office between 1774 when he went to the First Continental Congress, until the end of his Presidency in 1801. he was a Congressional Delegate, Ambassador, Vice President, and president, while also having served in local municipal offices since the mid 1760's.

While Thomas Jefferson had an even longer run, except for his sitting out the 2nd Washington Administration and a break following his Governorship, he was essentially a professional legislator both in Congress and the House of Burgesses, writing on the American cause prodigiously, from 1769 until being elected Governor of Virginia. Then serving as Minister to France, then Sec State, VP, and then of course President. His run being most of the nearly 40 year from 1769 to 1808.

While Jefferson was also independently wealthy and had an insatiable thirst and near reverence for knowledge in general, and upheld the ideal of disinterested almost reluctant politicians, he was also a shrewd operator who would have done quite well even today.