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The following are a list of living former members of the United States Cabinet and a list of last surviving Cabinet members of each presidency. The first list charts all living former members of the United States cabinet and information regarding their tenure. The second list charts the last surviving former cabinet members of each presidency (up to the Nixon Administration), and information regarding their tenure.
In the political system established by the United States Constitution, the President is authorized to seek advice from the principal officers of the various departments while performing their official duties. A president's cabinet is composed of these principal officers.
Currently, the officials comprising the president's cabinet include the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Secretary of Homeland Security. It formerly also included the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Individuals who served in this capacity are listed here. Not listed are persons who served in positions considered to be of cabinet level but which are not part of the Cabinet, such as the Vice President, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the United States Trade Representative.
Cabinet members from each of the nine most recent presidential administrations, since the presidency of Richard M. Nixon (1969–1974), are still living, including all former cabinet members from the administrations of Barack Obama (2009–2017) and Donald Trump (2017–2021). The oldest living former cabinet member is Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State during the Nixon and Ford (1974–1977) administrations. The youngest living former cabinet member is John King Jr., Secretary of Education during the Obama administration.
The earliest last surviving cabinet member of an administration to have died was Oliver Wolcott Jr., Secretary of the Treasury during the Washington administration (1789–1797), who died on June 1, 1833. The most recent, Ramsey Clark, Attorney General during the LBJ administration (1963–1969), was the last surviving cabinet member of the LBJ administration, who died on April 9, 2021.
The most recent death of a former cabinet member is Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense during the Ford and G. W. Bush (2001–2009) administrations. The most recently serving former cabinet member who has died is Samuel Bodman, Secretary of Energy through the end of the George W. Bush administration.
There is one former member of Richard Nixon's Cabinet still living.
There are four former members of Gerald Ford's Cabinet still living.
There are seven former members of Jimmy Carter's Cabinet still living.
There are 12 former members of Ronald Reagan's Cabinet still living.
There are 12 former members of George H. W. Bush's Cabinet still living.
There are 21 former members of Bill Clinton's Cabinet still living.
There are 31 former members of George W. Bush's Cabinet still living.
There are 32 former members of Barack Obama's Cabinet still living.
There are 24 former members of Donald Trump's Cabinet still living.
Administration | Name | Position | Tenure | Birthdate | Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Richard Nixon | Henry Kissinger [1] | Secretary of State | September 22, 1973– August 9, 1974 [lower-alpha 1] | May 27, 1923 | 98 years, 97 days |
Gerald Ford | Carla Hills | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | March 10, 1975– January 20, 1977 | January 3, 1934 | 87 years, 241 days |
Henry Kissinger [1] | Secretary of State | August 9, 1974– January 20, 1977 | May 27, 1923 | 98 years, 97 days | |
John Knebel | Secretary of Agriculture | November 4, 1976– January 20, 1977 | October 4, 1936 | 84 years, 332 days | |
David Mathews | Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare [lower-alpha 2] | August 8, 1975– January 20, 1977 | December 6, 1935 | 85 years, 269 days | |
Jimmy Carter | Michael Blumenthal | Secretary of the Treasury | January 23, 1977– August 4, 1979 | January 3, 1926 | 95 years, 241 days |
Joseph Califano | Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare [lower-alpha 2] | January 25, 1977– August 3, 1979 | May 15, 1931 | 90 years, 109 days | |
Benjamin Civiletti | Attorney General | August 16, 1979– January 19, 1981 | July 17, 1935 | 86 years, 46 days | |
Charles Duncan [2] | Secretary of Energy | August 24, 1979– January 20, 1981 | September 9, 1926 | 94 years, 357 days | |
Neil Goldschmidt | Secretary of Transportation | August 15, 1979– January 20, 1981 | June 16, 1940 | 81 years, 77 days | |
Moon Landrieu | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | September 24, 1979– January 20, 1981 | July 23, 1930 | 91 years, 40 days | |
Ray Marshall | Secretary of Labor | January 27, 1977– January 20, 1981 | August 22, 1928 | 93 years, 10 days | |
Ronald Reagan | James Baker [3] | Secretary of the Treasury | February 4, 1985– August 17, 1988 [lower-alpha 3] | April 28, 1930 | 91 years, 126 days |
William Bennett | Secretary of Education | February 6, 1985– September 20, 1988 | July 31, 1943 | 78 years, 32 days | |
John Block | Secretary of Agriculture | January 23, 1981– February 14, 1986 | February 15, 1935 | 86 years, 198 days | |
Nicholas Brady | Secretary of the Treasury | September 15, 1988– January 20, 1989 [lower-alpha 4] | April 11, 1930 | 91 years, 143 days | |
James Burnley | Secretary of Transportation | December 2, 1987– January 20, 1989 | July 30, 1948 | 73 years, 33 days | |
Lauro Cavazos | Secretary of Education | September 20, 1988– January 20, 1989 [lower-alpha 4] | January 4, 1927 | 94 years, 240 days | |
Elizabeth Dole | Secretary of Transportation | February 7, 1983– September 30, 1987 [lower-alpha 5] | July 29, 1936 | 85 years, 34 days | |
John Herrington [2] | Secretary of Energy | February 7, 1985– January 20, 1989 | May 31, 1939 | 82 years, 93 days | |
Donald Hodel [2] | Secretary of Energy Secretary of the Interior | November 5, 1982– February 7, 1985 February 8, 1985 – January 20, 1989 | May 23, 1935 | 86 years, 101 days | |
Ann Korologos | Secretary of Labor | December 17, 1987– January 20, 1989 | November 16, 1941 | 79 years, 289 days | |
Edwin Meese | Attorney General | February 25, 1985– July 5, 1988 | December 2, 1931 | 89 years, 273 days | |
James Watt | Secretary of the Interior | January 23, 1981– November 8, 1983 | January 31, 1938 | 83 years, 213 days | |
George H. W. Bush | Lamar Alexander | Secretary of Education | March 22, 1991– January 20, 1993 | July 3, 1940 | 81 years, 60 days |
James Baker [3] | Secretary of State | January 20, 1989– August 23, 1992 | April 28, 1930 | 91 years, 126 days | |
William Barr | Attorney General | November 26, 1991– January 20, 1993 [lower-alpha 6] | May 23, 1950 | 71 years, 101 days | |
Nicholas Brady | Secretary of the Treasury | January 20, 1989– January 17, 1993 | April 11, 1930 | 91 years, 143 days | |
Andrew Card | Secretary of Transportation | February 24, 1992– January 20, 1993 | May 10, 1947 | 74 years, 114 days | |
Lauro Cavazos | Secretary of Education | January 20, 1989– December 12, 1990 | January 4, 1927 | 94 years, 240 days | |
Dick Cheney | Secretary of Defense | March 20, 1989– January 20, 1993 | January 30, 1941 | 80 years, 214 days | |
Elizabeth Dole | Secretary of Labor | January 25, 1989– November 23, 1990 | July 29, 1936 | 85 years, 34 days | |
Barbara Franklin | Secretary of Commerce | February 27, 1992– January 20, 1993 | March 19, 1940 | 81 years, 166 days | |
Lynn Martin | Secretary of Labor | February 22, 1991– January 20, 1993 | December 26, 1939 | 81 years, 249 days | |
Samuel Skinner | Secretary of Transportation | February 6, 1989– December 15, 1991 | June 10, 1938 | 83 years, 83 days | |
Louis Sullivan | Secretary of Health and Human Services | March 1, 1989– January 20, 1993 | November 3, 1933 | 87 years, 302 days | |
Bill Clinton | Madeleine Albright [4] | Secretary of State | January 23, 1997–January 20, 2001 | May 15, 1937 | 84 years, 109 days |
Bruce Babbitt | Secretary of the Interior | January 22, 1993– January 2, 2001 | June 27, 1938 | 83 years, 66 days | |
Henry Cisneros | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | January 22, 1993– January 19, 1997 | June 11, 1947 | 74 years, 82 days | |
William Cohen | Secretary of Defense | January 24, 1997– January 20, 2001 | August 28, 1940 | 81 years, 4 days | |
Andrew Cuomo | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | January 29, 1997– January 20, 2001 | December 6, 1957 | 63 years, 269 days | |
William Daley | Secretary of Commerce | January 30, 1997– July 19, 2000 | August 8, 1948 | 73 years, 24 days | |
Mike Espy | Secretary of Agriculture | January 22, 1993– December 31, 1994 | November 30, 1953 | 67 years, 275 days | |
Dan Glickman | Secretary of Agriculture | March 30, 1995– January 19, 2001 | November 24, 1944 | 76 years, 281 days | |
Alexis Herman | Secretary of Labor | May 1, 1997– January 20, 2001 | July 16, 1947 | 74 years, 76 days | |
Mickey Kantor | Secretary of Commerce | April 12, 1996– January 21, 1997 | August 7, 1939 | 82 years, 25 days | |
Norman Mineta | Secretary of Commerce | July 20, 2000– January 20, 2001 [lower-alpha 7] | November 12, 1931 | 89 years, 293 days | |
Hazel O'Leary [2] | Secretary of Energy | January 22, 1993– January 20, 1997 | May 17, 1937 | 84 years, 107 days | |
Federico Peña [2] | Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy | January 21, 1993– February 14, 1997 March 12, 1997 – June 30, 1998 | March 15, 1947 | 74 years, 170 days | |
William Perry | Secretary of Defense | February 3, 1994– January 23, 1997 | October 11, 1927 | 93 years, 325 days | |
Robert Reich | Secretary of Labor | January 22, 1993– January 10, 1997 | June 24, 1946 | 75 years, 69 days | |
Bill Richardson [2] | Secretary of Energy | August 18, 1998– January 20, 2001 | November 15, 1947 | 73 years, 290 days | |
Richard Riley | Secretary of Education | January 21, 1993– January 20, 2001 | January 2, 1933 | 88 years, 242 days | |
Robert Rubin | Secretary of the Treasury | January 11, 1995– July 2, 1999 | August 29, 1938 | 83 years, 3 days | |
Donna Shalala | Secretary of Health and Human Services | January 22, 1993– January 20, 2001 | February 14, 1941 | 80 years, 199 days | |
Rodney Slater | Secretary of Transportation | February 14, 1997– January 20, 2001 | February 23, 1955 | 66 years, 190 days | |
Lawrence Summers | Secretary of the Treasury | July 2, 1999– January 20, 2001 | November 30, 1954 | 66 years, 275 days | |
George W. Bush | Spencer Abraham [2] | Secretary of Energy | January 20, 2001– February 1, 2005 | June 12, 1952 | 69 years, 81 days |
John Ashcroft | Attorney General | February 2, 2001– February 3, 2005 | May 9, 1942 | 79 years, 115 days | |
Elaine Chao | Secretary of Labor | January 29, 2001– January 20, 2009 [lower-alpha 8] | March 26, 1953 | 68 years, 159 days | |
Michael Chertoff | Secretary of Homeland Security | February 15, 2005– January 21, 2009 | November 28, 1953 | 67 years, 277 days | |
Donald Evans | Secretary of Commerce | January 20, 2001– February 7, 2005 | July 27, 1946 | 75 years, 36 days | |
Robert Gates | Secretary of Defense | December 18, 2006– January 20, 2009 [lower-alpha 9] | September 25, 1943 | 77 years, 341 days | |
Alberto Gonzales | Attorney General | February 3, 2005– September 17, 2007 | August 4, 1955 | 66 years, 28 days | |
Carlos Gutierrez | Secretary of Commerce | February 7, 2005– January 20, 2009 | November 4, 1953 | 67 years, 301 days | |
Alphonso Jackson | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | September 30, 2004– April 18, 2008 | September 9, 1945 | 75 years, 357 days | |
Mike Johanns | Secretary of Agriculture | January 21, 2005– September 20, 2007 | June 18, 1950 | 71 years, 75 days | |
Dirk Kempthorne | Secretary of the Interior | June 7, 2006– January 20, 2009 | October 29, 1951 | 69 years, 307 days | |
Mike Leavitt | Secretary of Health and Human Services | January 26, 2005– January 20, 2009 | February 11, 1951 | 70 years, 202 days | |
Mel Martínez | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | January 24, 2001– August 13, 2004 | October 23, 1946 | 74 years, 313 days | |
Norman Mineta | Secretary of Transportation | January 25, 2001– July 7, 2006 | November 12, 1931 | 89 years, 293 days | |
Michael Mukasey | Attorney General | November 9, 2007– January 20, 2009 | July 28, 1941 | 80 years, 35 days | |
Jim Nicholson | Secretary of Veterans Affairs | January 26, 2005– October 1, 2007 | February 4, 1938 | 83 years, 209 days | |
Gale Norton | Secretary of the Interior | January 31, 2001– March 31, 2006 | March 11, 1954 | 67 years, 174 days | |
Rod Paige | Secretary of Education | January 20, 2001– January 20, 2005 | June 17, 1933 | 88 years, 76 days | |
Henry Paulson | Secretary of the Treasury | July 3, 2006– January 20, 2009 | March 28, 1946 | 75 years, 157 days | |
James Peake | Secretary of Veterans Affairs | December 20, 2007– January 20, 2009 | June 18, 1944 | 77 years, 75 days | |
Mary Peters | Secretary of Transportation | October 17, 2006– January 20, 2009 | December 4, 1948 | 72 years, 271 days | |
Colin Powell [5] | Secretary of State | January 20, 2001– January 26, 2005 | April 5, 1937 | 84 years, 149 days | |
Steve Preston | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | June 5, 2008– January 20, 2009 | August 4, 1960 | 61 years, 28 days | |
Anthony Principi | Secretary of Veterans Affairs | January 23, 2001– January 26, 2005 | April 16, 1944 | 77 years, 138 days | |
Condoleezza Rice [6] | Secretary of State | January 26, 2005– January 20, 2009 | November 14, 1954 | 66 years, 291 days | |
Tom Ridge | Secretary of Homeland Security | January 24, 2003– February 1, 2005 | August 26, 1945 | 76 years, 6 days | |
Ed Schafer | Secretary of Agriculture | January 28, 2008– January 20, 2009 | August 8, 1946 | 75 years, 24 days | |
John Snow | Secretary of the Treasury | February 3, 2003– June 28, 2006 | August 2, 1939 | 82 years, 30 days | |
Margaret Spellings | Secretary of Education | January 20, 2005– January 20, 2009 | November 30, 1957 | 63 years, 275 days | |
Tommy Thompson | Secretary of Health and Human Services | February 2, 2001– January 26, 2005 | November 19, 1941 | 79 years, 286 days | |
Ann Veneman | Secretary of Agriculture | January 20, 2001– January 20, 2005 | June 29, 1949 | 72 years, 64 days | |
Barack Obama | Sylvia Mathews Burwell | Secretary of Health and Human Services | June 9, 2014– January 20, 2017 | June 23, 1965 | 56 years, 70 days |
John Bryson | Secretary of Commerce | October 21, 2011– June 21, 2012 | July 24, 1943 | 78 years, 39 days | |
Julian Castro | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | July 28, 2014– January 20, 2017 | September 16, 1974 | 46 years, 350 days | |
Ashton Carter | Secretary of Defense | February 17, 2015– January 20, 2017 | September 24, 1954 | 66 years, 342 days | |
Steven Chu [2] | Secretary of Energy | January 21, 2009– April 22, 2013 | February 28, 1948 | 73 years, 185 days | |
Hillary Clinton [7] | Secretary of State | January 21, 2009– February 1, 2013 | October 26, 1947 | 73 years, 310 days | |
Shaun Donovan | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | January 26, 2009– July 28, 2014 | January 24, 1966 | 55 years, 220 days | |
Arne Duncan | Secretary of Education | January 21, 2009– July 31, 2016 | November 6, 1964 | 56 years, 299 days | |
Anthony Foxx | Secretary of Transportation | July 2, 2013– January 20, 2017 | April 30, 1971 | 50 years, 124 days | |
Robert Gates | Secretary of Defense | January 20, 2009– June 30, 2011 | September 25, 1943 | 77 years, 341 days | |
Timothy Geithner | Secretary of the Treasury | January 26, 2009– January 25, 2013 | August 18, 1961 | 60 years, 14 days | |
Chuck Hagel | Secretary of Defense | February 27, 2013– February 17, 2015 | October 4, 1946 | 74 years, 332 days | |
Eric Holder | Attorney General | February 3, 2009– April 27, 2015 | January 21, 1951 | 70 years, 223 days | |
Sally Jewell | Secretary of the Interior | April 12, 2013– January 20, 2017 | February 21, 1956 | 65 years, 192 days | |
Jeh Johnson | Secretary of Homeland Security | December 23, 2013– January 20, 2017 | September 11, 1957 | 63 years, 355 days | |
John Kerry | Secretary of State | February 1, 2013– January 20, 2017 | December 11, 1943 | 77 years, 264 days | |
John King Jr. | Secretary of Education | September 14, 2016– January 20, 2017 | January 5, 1975 | 46 years, 239 days | |
Ray LaHood | Secretary of Transportation | January 23, 2009– July 2, 2013 | December 6, 1945 | 75 years, 269 days | |
Jacob Lew | Secretary of the Treasury | February 28, 2013– January 20, 2017 | August 29, 1955 | 66 years, 3 days | |
Gary Locke | Secretary of Commerce | March 26, 2009– August 1, 2011 | January 21, 1950 | 71 years, 223 days | |
Loretta Lynch | Attorney General | April 27, 2015– January 20, 2017 | May 21, 1959 | 62 years, 103 days | |
Robert A. McDonald | Secretary of Veterans Affairs | July 30, 2014– January 20, 2017 | June 20, 1953 | 68 years, 73 days | |
Ernest Moniz | Secretary of Energy | May 21, 2013– January 20, 2017 | December 22, 1944 | 76 years, 253 days | |
Janet Napolitano | Secretary of Homeland Security | January 21, 2009– September 6, 2013 | November 29, 1957 | 63 years, 276 days | |
Leon Panetta | Secretary of Defense | July 1, 2011– February 27, 2013 | June 28, 1938 | 83 years, 65 days | |
Thomas Perez | Secretary of Labor | July 23, 2013– January 20, 2017 | October 7, 1961 | 59 years, 329 days | |
Penny Pritzker | Secretary of Commerce | June 26, 2013– January 20, 2017 | May 2, 1959 | 62 years, 122 days | |
Ken Salazar | Secretary of the Interior | January 20, 2009– April 12, 2013 | March 2, 1955 | 66 years, 183 days | |
Kathleen Sebelius | Secretary of Health and Human Services | April 28, 2009– June 9, 2014 | May 15, 1948 | 73 years, 109 days | |
Eric Shinseki | Secretary of Veterans Affairs | January 21, 2009– May 30, 2014 | November 28, 1942 | 78 years, 277 days | |
Hilda Solis | Secretary of Labor | February 24, 2009– January 22, 2013 | October 20, 1957 | 63 years, 316 days | |
Tom Vilsack | Secretary of Agriculture | January 20, 2009– January 13, 2017 [lower-alpha 10] | December 13, 1950 | 70 years, 262 days | |
Donald Trump | Alexander Acosta | Secretary of Labor | April 28, 2017– July 19, 2019 | January 16, 1969 | 52 years, 228 days |
Alex Azar | Secretary of Health and Human Services | January 29, 2018– January 20, 2021 | June 17, 1967 | 54 years, 76 days | |
William Barr | Attorney General | February 14, 2019– December 23, 2020 | May 23, 1950 | 71 years, 101 days | |
David Bernhardt | Secretary of the Interior | April 11, 2019– January 20, 2021 | August 17, 1969 | 52 years, 15 days | |
Dan Brouillette | Secretary of Energy | December 4, 2019– January 20, 2021 | August 18, 1962 | 59 years, 14 days | |
Ben Carson | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | March 2, 2017– January 20, 2021 | September 18, 1951 | 69 years, 348 days | |
Elaine Chao | Secretary of Transportation | January 31, 2017– January 11, 2021 | March 26, 1953 | 68 years, 159 days | |
Betsy DeVos | Secretary of Education | February 7, 2017– January 8, 2021 | January 8, 1958 | 63 years, 236 days | |
Mark Esper | Secretary of Defense | July 23, 2019– November 9, 2020 | April 26, 1964 | 57 years, 128 days | |
John F. Kelly | Secretary of Homeland Security | January 20, 2017– July 31, 2017 | May 11, 1950 | 71 years, 113 days | |
Jim Mattis | Secretary of Defense | January 20, 2017– December 31, 2018 | September 8, 1950 | 70 years, 358 days | |
Steven Mnuchin | Secretary of the Treasury | February 13, 2017– January 20, 2021 | December 21, 1962 | 58 years, 254 days | |
Kirstjen Nielsen | Secretary of Homeland Security | December 6, 2017– April 10, 2019 | May 14, 1972 | 49 years, 110 days | |
Sonny Perdue | Secretary of Agriculture | April 25, 2017– January 20, 2021 | December 20, 1946 | 74 years, 255 days | |
Rick Perry | Secretary of Energy | March 2, 2017– December 1, 2019 | March 4, 1950 | 71 years, 181 days | |
Mike Pompeo | Secretary of State | April 26, 2018– January 20, 2021 | December 30, 1963 | 57 years, 245 days | |
Tom Price | Secretary of Health and Human Services | February 10, 2017– September 29, 2017 | October 8, 1954 | 66 years, 328 days | |
Wilbur Ross | Secretary of Commerce | February 28, 2017– January 20, 2021 | November 28, 1937 | 83 years, 277 days | |
Eugene Scalia | Secretary of Labor | September 30, 2019– January 20, 2021 | August 14, 1963 | 58 years, 18 days | |
Jeff Sessions | Attorney General | February 9, 2017– November 7, 2018 | December 24, 1946 | 74 years, 251 days | |
David Shulkin | Secretary of Veterans Affairs | February 14, 2017– March 28, 2018 | July 22, 1959 | 62 years, 113 days | |
Rex Tillerson | Secretary of State | February 1, 2017– March 31, 2018 | March 23, 1952 | 69 years, 162 days | |
Robert Wilkie | Secretary of Veterans Affairs | July 30, 2018– January 20, 2021 | August 2, 1962 | 59 years, 30 days | |
Ryan Zinke | Secretary of the Interior | March 1, 2017– January 2, 2019 | November 1, 1961 | 59 years, 304 days |
No. | Name [lower-alpha 11] | Position | Administration | Tenure | Post-administration timespan [lower-alpha 12] [lower-alpha 13] | Lifespan [lower-alpha 14] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | Died | Age | ||||||
1 | Oliver Wolcott Jr. | Secretary of the Treasury | Washington | February 3, 1795 – March 4, 1797 [lower-alpha 15] | 36 years, 89 days | January 11, 1760 | June 1, 1833 | 73 years, 141 days |
2 | John Marshall | Secretary of State | Adams | June 13, 1800 – March 4, 1801 | 34 years, 124 days | September 24, 1755 | July 6, 1835 | 79 years, 285 days |
3 | Albert Gallatin | Secretary of the Treasury | Jefferson | May 14, 1801 – March 4, 1809 [lower-alpha 16] | 40 years, 161 days | January 29, 1761 | August 12, 1849 | 88 years, 195 days |
4 | Richard Rush | Attorney General | Madison | February 10, 1814 – March 4, 1817 [lower-alpha 17] | 42 years, 148 days | August 29, 1780 | July 30, 1859 | 78 years, 335 days |
5 | Richard Rush | Secretary of State (Acting) | Monroe | March 10, 1817 – September 22, 1817 | 34 years, 148 days* | August 29, 1780* | July 30, 1859* | 78 years, 335 days* |
6 | Richard Rush | Secretary of the Treasury | Adams | March 7, 1825 – March 4, 1829 [lower-alpha 18] | 30 years, 148 days* | August 29, 1780* | July 30, 1859* | 78 years, 335 days* |
7 | Amos Kendall | Postmaster General | Jackson | May 1, 1835 – March 4, 1837 [lower-alpha 19] | 32 years, 253 days | August 16, 1789 | November 12, 1869 | 80 years, 88 days |
8 | Amos Kendall | Postmaster General* | Van Buren | March 4, 1837 – May 18, 1840 | 28 years, 253 days* | August 16, 1789* | November 12, 1869* | 80 years, 88 days* |
9 | Thomas Ewing | Secretary of the Treasury [lower-alpha 20] | Harrison | March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841 [lower-alpha 21] | 30 years, 205 days | December 28, 1789 | October 26, 1871 | 81 years, 302 days |
10 | Thomas Ewing | Secretary of the Treasury* | Tyler | April 4, 1841 – September 11, 1841 | 26 years, 236 days* | December 28, 1789* | October 26, 1871* | 81 years, 302 days* |
11 | George Bancroft | Secretary of the Navy | Polk | March 11, 1845 – September 9, 1846 | 41 years, 319 days | October 3, 1800 | January 17, 1891 | 90 years, 106 days |
12 | Reverdy Johnson | Attorney General | Taylor | March 8, 1849 – July 9, 1850 [lower-alpha 22] | 25 years, 216 days | May 21, 1796 | February 10, 1876 | 79 years, 265 days |
13 | Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart | Secretary of the Interior | Fillmore | September 14, 1850 – March 4, 1853 [lower-alpha 23] | 37 years, 346 days | April 2, 1807 | February 13, 1891 | 83 years, 317 days |
14 | James Campbell | Postmaster General | Pierce | March 7, 1853 – March 4, 1857 | 35 years, 329 days | September 1, 1812 | January 27, 1893 | 80 years, 148 days |
15 | Horatio King | Postmaster General | Buchanan | February 12, 1861 – March 4, 1861 [lower-alpha 24] | 36 years, 82 days | June 21, 1811 | May 25, 1897 | 85 years, 338 days |
16 | Hugh McCulloch | Secretary of the Treasury [lower-alpha 25] | Lincoln | March 9, 1865 – April 15, 1865 [lower-alpha 26] | 30 years, 39 days | December 7, 1808 | May 24, 1895 | 86 years, 168 days |
17 | John Schofield | Secretary of War | Johnson | June 1, 1868 – March 4, 1869 [lower-alpha 27] | 37 years, 0 days | September 29, 1831 | March 4, 1906 | 74 years, 156 days |
18 | J. Donald Cameron | Secretary of War | Grant | May 22, 1876 – March 4, 1877 | 41 years, 179 days | May 14, 1833 | August 30, 1918 | 85 years, 108 days |
19 | Nathan Goff Jr. | Secretary of the Navy | Hayes | January 7, 1881 – March 4, 1881 | 39 years, 50 days | February 9, 1843 | April 23, 1920 | 77 years, 74 days |
20 | Robert Todd Lincoln | Secretary of War | Garfield [lower-alpha 28] | March 5, 1881 – September 19, 1881 | 44 years, 310 days | August 1, 1843 | July 26, 1926 | 82 years, 359 days |
21 | Robert Todd Lincoln | Secretary of War* | Arthur | September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885 | 41 years, 144 days* | August 1, 1843* | July 26, 1926* | 82 years, 359 days* |
22 | Charles S. Fairchild | Secretary of the Treasury | Cleveland [lower-alpha 29] | April 1, 1887 – March 4, 1889 [lower-alpha 30] | 35 years, 265 days | April 30, 1842 | November 24, 1924 | 82 years, 208 days |
23 | John Wanamaker | Postmaster General | Harrison | March 5, 1889 – March 4, 1893 | 29 years, 283 days | July 11, 1838 | December 12, 1922 | 84 years, 154 days |
24 | M. Hoke Smith | Secretary of the Interior | Cleveland [lower-alpha 31] | March 6, 1893 – September 1, 1896 | 34 years, 268 days | September 2, 1855 | November 27, 1931 | 76 years, 86 days |
25 | Elihu Root | Secretary of War [lower-alpha 32] | McKinley | August 1, 1899 – September 14, 1901 [lower-alpha 33] | 35 years, 146 days | February 15, 1845 | February 7, 1937 | 91 years, 358 days |
26 | James R. Garfield | Secretary of the Interior | Roosevelt | March 5, 1907 – March 4, 1909 | 41 years, 20 days | October 17, 1865 | March 24, 1950 | 84 years, 158 days |
27 | Henry L. Stimson | Secretary of War [lower-alpha 34] | Taft | May 22, 1911 – March 4, 1913 | 37 years, 230 days | September 21, 1867 | October 20, 1950 | 83 years, 29 days |
28 | Bainbridge Colby | Secretary of State | Wilson | March 23, 1920 – March 4, 1921 | 29 years, 38 days | December 22, 1869 | April 11, 1950 | 80 years, 110 days |
29 | Herbert Hoover [lower-alpha 35] | Secretary of Commerce | Harding | March 5, 1921 – August 2, 1923 [lower-alpha 36] | 41 years, 79 days | August 10, 1874 | October 20, 1964 | 90 years, 71 days |
30 | Herbert Hoover | Secretary of Commerce* | Coolidge | August 2, 1923 – August 21, 1928 | 35 years, 230 days* | August 10, 1874* | October 20, 1964* | 90 years, 71 days* |
31 | Patrick J. Hurley [lower-alpha 37] | Secretary of War | Hoover | December 9, 1929 – March 4, 1933 | 30 years, 148 days | January 8, 1883 | July 30, 1963 | 80 years, 203 days |
32 | James Farley | Postmaster General | Roosevelt | March 4, 1933 – September 10, 1940 | 31 years, 58 days | May 30, 1888 | June 9, 1976 | 88 years, 10 days |
33 | Charles F. Brannan | Secretary of Agriculture | Truman | June 2, 1948 – January 20, 1953 | 39 years, 164 days | August 23, 1903 | July 2, 1992 | 88 years, 314 days |
34 | William P. Rogers | Attorney General | Eisenhower | October 23, 1957 – January 20, 1961 [lower-alpha 38] | 39 years, 348 days | June 23, 1913 | January 2, 2001 | 87 years, 193 days |
35 | W. Willard Wirtz | Secretary of Labor | Kennedy | September 25, 1962 – November 22, 1963 [lower-alpha 39] | 46 years, 153 days | March 14, 1912 | April 24, 2010 | 98 years, 41 days |
36 | Ramsey Clark | Attorney General | Johnson | March 10, 1967 – January 20, 1969 Acting: November 28, 1966 – March 10, 1967 | 52 years, 79 days | December 18, 1927 | April 9, 2021 | 93 years, 112 days |
37 | Henry Kissinger [1] | Secretary of State | Nixon | September 22, 1973 – August 9, 1974 [lower-alpha 40] | 47 years, 23 days | May 27, 1923 | (living) | 98 years, 97 days |
Donald Henry Rumsfeld was an American politician, government official and businessman who served as Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under Gerald Ford, and again from 2001 to 2006 under George W. Bush. He was both the youngest and the oldest secretary of defense. Additionally, Rumsfeld was a three-term U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1963–1969), director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (1969–1970), counselor to the president (1969–1973), the U.S. Representative to NATO (1973–1974), and the White House Chief of Staff (1974–1975). Between his terms as secretary of defense, he served as the CEO and chairman of several companies.
The Cabinet of the United States is a body consisting of the vice president of the United States and the heads of the executive branch's federal executive departments in the federal government of the United States, which is regarded as the principal advisory body to the president of the United States. The president is not formally a member of the Cabinet. The heads of departments, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, are members of the Cabinet, and acting department heads also sit at the Cabinet meetings whether or not they have been officially nominated for Senate confirmation. The president may designate heads of other agencies and non-Senate-confirmed members of the Executive Office of the President as Cabinet-level members of the Cabinet.
The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice president is also an officer in the legislative branch, as the president of the Senate. In this capacity, the vice president is empowered to preside over Senate deliberations at any time, but may not vote except to cast a tie-breaking vote. The vice president is indirectly elected together with the president to a four-year term of office by the people of the United States through the Electoral College.
The United States attorney general (AG) leads the United States Department of Justice, and is the chief lawyer of the federal government of the United States. The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters. The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States.
Alexander Meigs Haig Jr. was the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and the White House chief of staff under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Prior to these cabinet-level positions, he retired as a general from the United States Army, having been Supreme Allied Commander Europe after serving as the vice chief of staff of the Army. In 1973, he became the youngest four-star general in the U.S. Army's history.
The United States presidential line of succession is the order in which officials of the United States federal government assume the powers and duties of the office of president of the United States if the incumbent president becomes incapacitated, dies, resigns, or is removed from office. The order of succession specifies that the office passes to the vice president; if the vice presidency is simultaneously vacant, or if the vice president is also incapacitated, the powers and duties of the presidency pass to the speaker of the House of Representatives, president pro tempore of the Senate, and then Cabinet secretaries, depending on eligibility.
The White House Chief of Staff position is the successor to the earlier role of the Secretary to the President of the United States. The role was formalized as the Assistant to the President in 1946 and acquired its current title in 1961. The current official title is Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff.
Imperial Presidency is a term applied to the modern presidency of the United States. It became popular in the 1960s and served as the title of a 1973 book by historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., who wrote The Imperial Presidency to address two concerns: that the presidency was uncontrollable and that it had exceeded its constitutional limits. According to Professor of political science Thomas E. Cronin, author of The State of the Presidency, the Imperial Presidency is a term used to define a danger to the American constitutional system by allowing the Presidency to create and abuse presidential prerogative during national emergencies. Its prerogative was based on: (1) presidential war powers vaguely defined in the constitution, and (2) secrecy - a system used that shielded the Presidency from the usual checks and balances afforded by the legislative and judicial branches.
The United States federal executive departments are the principal units of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States. They are analogous to ministries common in parliamentary or semi-presidential systems but they are led by a head of government who is also the head of state. The executive departments are the administrative arms of the President of the United States. There are currently 15 executive departments.
Gerald Ford's tenure as the 38th president of the United States began on August 9, 1974, upon the resignation of Richard Nixon from office, and ended on January 20, 1977, a period of 895 days. Ford, a Republican from Michigan, had served as vice president since December 6, 1973, following Spiro Agnew's resignation from that office. Ford has the distinction of being the only person to serve as president without being elected to either the presidency or the vice presidency. His presidency ended following his defeat in the 1976 presidential election by Democrat Jimmy Carter.
William Bart "Bill" Saxbe was an American politician affiliated with the Republican Party, who served as a U.S. Senator for Ohio, and was the Attorney General for Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford, and as the U.S. Ambassador to India.
Rogers Clark Ballard Morton was an American politician who served as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Commerce during the administrations of Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford, Jr., respectively. He also served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland.
John Albert Knebel is a former United States government official who served as Secretary of Agriculture under President Gerald Ford.
Counselor to the President is a title used by high-ranking political advisors to the president of the United States and senior members of the White House Office.
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. was an American politician who served as the 38th president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. The leader of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives, he later served as the 40th vice president of the United States from 1973 to 1974. When President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974, Ford succeeded to the presidency, but he was defeated for election to a full term in 1976.
William George Hyland was Deputy National Security Advisor to President of the United States Gerald Ford and editor of Foreign Affairs magazine.
The presidential transition of Richard Nixon began when Richard Nixon won the United States 1968 United States presidential election, becoming the president-elect, and ended when Nixon was inaugurated at noon EST on January 20, 1969. Nixon had become president-elect once the election results became clear on November 6, 1968, the day after the election. This was the first presidential transition to take place following the passage of the Presidential Transition Act of 1963.