List of living former members of the United States Cabinet

Last updated

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.

Contents

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.

Living former Cabinet members

AdministrationNamePositionTenureBirthdateAge
Richard Nixon Henry Kissinger [1] Secretary of StateSeptember 22, 1973 August 9, 1974 [lower-alpha 1] May 27, 192398 years, 97 days
Gerald Ford Carla Hills Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentMarch 10, 1975 January 20, 1977January 3, 193487 years, 241 days
Henry Kissinger [1] Secretary of StateAugust 9, 1974 January 20, 1977May 27, 192398 years, 97 days
John Knebel Secretary of AgricultureNovember 4, 1976 January 20, 1977October 4, 193684 years, 332 days
David Mathews Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare [lower-alpha 2] August 8, 1975 January 20, 1977December 6, 193585 years, 269 days
Jimmy Carter Michael Blumenthal Secretary of the TreasuryJanuary 23, 1977 August 4, 1979January 3, 192695 years, 241 days
Joseph Califano Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare [lower-alpha 2] January 25, 1977 August 3, 1979May 15, 193190 years, 109 days
Benjamin Civiletti Attorney GeneralAugust 16, 1979 January 19, 1981July 17, 193586 years, 46 days
Charles Duncan [2] Secretary of EnergyAugust 24, 1979 January 20, 1981September 9, 192694 years, 357 days
Neil Goldschmidt Secretary of TransportationAugust 15, 1979 January 20, 1981June 16, 194081 years, 77 days
Moon Landrieu Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentSeptember 24, 1979 January 20, 1981July 23, 193091 years, 40 days
Ray Marshall Secretary of LaborJanuary 27, 1977 January 20, 1981August 22, 192893 years, 10 days
Ronald Reagan James Baker [3] Secretary of the TreasuryFebruary 4, 1985 August 17, 1988 [lower-alpha 3] April 28, 193091 years, 126 days
William Bennett Secretary of EducationFebruary 6, 1985 September 20, 1988July 31, 194378 years, 32 days
John Block Secretary of AgricultureJanuary 23, 1981 February 14, 1986February 15, 193586 years, 198 days
Nicholas Brady Secretary of the TreasurySeptember 15, 1988 January 20, 1989 [lower-alpha 4] April 11, 193091 years, 143 days
James Burnley Secretary of TransportationDecember 2, 1987 January 20, 1989July 30, 194873 years, 33 days
Lauro Cavazos Secretary of EducationSeptember 20, 1988 January 20, 1989 [lower-alpha 4] January 4, 192794 years, 240 days
Elizabeth Dole Secretary of TransportationFebruary 7, 1983 September 30, 1987 [lower-alpha 5] July 29, 193685 years, 34 days
John Herrington [2] Secretary of EnergyFebruary 7, 1985 January 20, 1989May 31, 193982 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, 193586 years, 101 days
Ann Korologos Secretary of LaborDecember 17, 1987 January 20, 1989November 16, 194179 years, 289 days
Edwin Meese Attorney GeneralFebruary 25, 1985 July 5, 1988December 2, 193189 years, 273 days
James Watt Secretary of the InteriorJanuary 23, 1981 November 8, 1983January 31, 193883 years, 213 days
George H. W. Bush Lamar Alexander Secretary of EducationMarch 22, 1991 January 20, 1993July 3, 194081 years, 60 days
James Baker [3] Secretary of StateJanuary 20, 1989 August 23, 1992April 28, 193091 years, 126 days
William Barr Attorney GeneralNovember 26, 1991 January 20, 1993 [lower-alpha 6] May 23, 195071 years, 101 days
Nicholas Brady Secretary of the TreasuryJanuary 20, 1989 January 17, 1993April 11, 193091 years, 143 days
Andrew Card Secretary of TransportationFebruary 24, 1992 January 20, 1993May 10, 194774 years, 114 days
Lauro Cavazos Secretary of EducationJanuary 20, 1989 December 12, 1990January 4, 192794 years, 240 days
Dick Cheney Secretary of DefenseMarch 20, 1989 January 20, 1993January 30, 194180 years, 214 days
Elizabeth Dole Secretary of LaborJanuary 25, 1989 November 23, 1990July 29, 193685 years, 34 days
Barbara Franklin Secretary of CommerceFebruary 27, 1992 January 20, 1993March 19, 194081 years, 166 days
Lynn Martin Secretary of LaborFebruary 22, 1991 January 20, 1993December 26, 193981 years, 249 days
Samuel Skinner Secretary of TransportationFebruary 6, 1989 December 15, 1991June 10, 193883 years, 83 days
Louis Sullivan Secretary of Health and Human ServicesMarch 1, 1989 January 20, 1993November 3, 193387 years, 302 days
Bill Clinton Madeleine Albright [4] Secretary of StateJanuary 23, 1997January 20, 2001May 15, 193784 years, 109 days
Bruce Babbitt Secretary of the InteriorJanuary 22, 1993 January 2, 2001June 27, 193883 years, 66 days
Henry Cisneros Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentJanuary 22, 1993 January 19, 1997June 11, 194774 years, 82 days
William Cohen Secretary of DefenseJanuary 24, 1997 January 20, 2001August 28, 194081 years, 4 days
Andrew Cuomo Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentJanuary 29, 1997 January 20, 2001December 6, 195763 years, 269 days
William Daley Secretary of CommerceJanuary 30, 1997 July 19, 2000August 8, 194873 years, 24 days
Mike Espy Secretary of AgricultureJanuary 22, 1993 December 31, 1994November 30, 195367 years, 275 days
Dan Glickman Secretary of AgricultureMarch 30, 1995 January 19, 2001November 24, 194476 years, 281 days
Alexis Herman Secretary of LaborMay 1, 1997 January 20, 2001July 16, 194774 years, 76 days
Mickey Kantor Secretary of CommerceApril 12, 1996 January 21, 1997August 7, 193982 years, 25 days
Norman Mineta Secretary of CommerceJuly 20, 2000 January 20, 2001 [lower-alpha 7] November 12, 193189 years, 293 days
Hazel O'Leary [2] Secretary of EnergyJanuary 22, 1993 January 20, 1997May 17, 193784 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, 194774 years, 170 days
William Perry Secretary of DefenseFebruary 3, 1994 January 23, 1997October 11, 192793 years, 325 days
Robert Reich Secretary of LaborJanuary 22, 1993 January 10, 1997June 24, 194675 years, 69 days
Bill Richardson [2] Secretary of EnergyAugust 18, 1998 January 20, 2001November 15, 194773 years, 290 days
Richard Riley Secretary of EducationJanuary 21, 1993 January 20, 2001January 2, 193388 years, 242 days
Robert Rubin Secretary of the TreasuryJanuary 11, 1995 July 2, 1999August 29, 193883 years, 3 days
Donna Shalala Secretary of Health and Human ServicesJanuary 22, 1993 January 20, 2001February 14, 194180 years, 199 days
Rodney Slater Secretary of TransportationFebruary 14, 1997 January 20, 2001February 23, 195566 years, 190 days
Lawrence Summers Secretary of the TreasuryJuly 2, 1999 January 20, 2001November 30, 195466 years, 275 days
George W. Bush Spencer Abraham [2] Secretary of EnergyJanuary 20, 2001 February 1, 2005June 12, 195269 years, 81 days
John Ashcroft Attorney GeneralFebruary 2, 2001 February 3, 2005May 9, 194279 years, 115 days
Elaine Chao Secretary of LaborJanuary 29, 2001 January 20, 2009 [lower-alpha 8] March 26, 195368 years, 159 days
Michael Chertoff Secretary of Homeland SecurityFebruary 15, 2005 January 21, 2009November 28, 195367 years, 277 days
Donald Evans Secretary of CommerceJanuary 20, 2001 February 7, 2005July 27, 194675 years, 36 days
Robert Gates Secretary of DefenseDecember 18, 2006 January 20, 2009 [lower-alpha 9] September 25, 194377 years, 341 days
Alberto Gonzales Attorney GeneralFebruary 3, 2005 September 17, 2007August 4, 195566 years, 28 days
Carlos Gutierrez Secretary of CommerceFebruary 7, 2005 January 20, 2009November 4, 195367 years, 301 days
Alphonso Jackson Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentSeptember 30, 2004 April 18, 2008September 9, 194575 years, 357 days
Mike Johanns Secretary of AgricultureJanuary 21, 2005 September 20, 2007June 18, 195071 years, 75 days
Dirk Kempthorne Secretary of the InteriorJune 7, 2006 January 20, 2009October 29, 195169 years, 307 days
Mike Leavitt Secretary of Health and Human ServicesJanuary 26, 2005 January 20, 2009February 11, 195170 years, 202 days
Mel Martínez Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentJanuary 24, 2001 August 13, 2004October 23, 194674 years, 313 days
Norman Mineta Secretary of TransportationJanuary 25, 2001 July 7, 2006November 12, 193189 years, 293 days
Michael Mukasey Attorney GeneralNovember 9, 2007 January 20, 2009July 28, 194180 years, 35 days
Jim Nicholson Secretary of Veterans AffairsJanuary 26, 2005 October 1, 2007February 4, 193883 years, 209 days
Gale Norton Secretary of the InteriorJanuary 31, 2001 March 31, 2006March 11, 195467 years, 174 days
Rod Paige Secretary of EducationJanuary 20, 2001 January 20, 2005June 17, 193388 years, 76 days
Henry Paulson Secretary of the TreasuryJuly 3, 2006 January 20, 2009March 28, 194675 years, 157 days
James Peake Secretary of Veterans AffairsDecember 20, 2007 January 20, 2009June 18, 194477 years, 75 days
Mary Peters Secretary of TransportationOctober 17, 2006 January 20, 2009December 4, 194872 years, 271 days
Colin Powell [5] Secretary of StateJanuary 20, 2001 January 26, 2005April 5, 193784 years, 149 days
Steve Preston Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentJune 5, 2008 January 20, 2009August 4, 196061 years, 28 days
Anthony Principi Secretary of Veterans AffairsJanuary 23, 2001 January 26, 2005April 16, 194477 years, 138 days
Condoleezza Rice [6] Secretary of StateJanuary 26, 2005 January 20, 2009November 14, 195466 years, 291 days
Tom Ridge Secretary of Homeland SecurityJanuary 24, 2003 February 1, 2005August 26, 194576 years, 6 days
Ed Schafer Secretary of AgricultureJanuary 28, 2008 January 20, 2009August 8, 194675 years, 24 days
John Snow Secretary of the TreasuryFebruary 3, 2003 June 28, 2006August 2, 193982 years, 30 days
Margaret Spellings Secretary of EducationJanuary 20, 2005 January 20, 2009November 30, 195763 years, 275 days
Tommy Thompson Secretary of Health and Human ServicesFebruary 2, 2001 January 26, 2005November 19, 194179 years, 286 days
Ann Veneman Secretary of AgricultureJanuary 20, 2001 January 20, 2005June 29, 194972 years, 64 days
Barack Obama Sylvia Mathews Burwell Secretary of Health and Human ServicesJune 9, 2014 January 20, 2017June 23, 196556 years, 70 days
John Bryson Secretary of CommerceOctober 21, 2011 June 21, 2012July 24, 194378 years, 39 days
Julian Castro Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentJuly 28, 2014 January 20, 2017September 16, 197446 years, 350 days
Ashton Carter Secretary of DefenseFebruary 17, 2015 January 20, 2017September 24, 195466 years, 342 days
Steven Chu [2] Secretary of EnergyJanuary 21, 2009 April 22, 2013February 28, 194873 years, 185 days
Hillary Clinton [7] Secretary of StateJanuary 21, 2009 February 1, 2013October 26, 194773 years, 310 days
Shaun Donovan Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentJanuary 26, 2009 July 28, 2014January 24, 196655 years, 220 days
Arne Duncan Secretary of EducationJanuary 21, 2009 July 31, 2016November 6, 196456 years, 299 days
Anthony Foxx Secretary of TransportationJuly 2, 2013 January 20, 2017April 30, 197150 years, 124 days
Robert Gates Secretary of DefenseJanuary 20, 2009 June 30, 2011September 25, 194377 years, 341 days
Timothy Geithner Secretary of the TreasuryJanuary 26, 2009 January 25, 2013August 18, 196160 years, 14 days
Chuck Hagel Secretary of DefenseFebruary 27, 2013 February 17, 2015October 4, 194674 years, 332 days
Eric Holder Attorney GeneralFebruary 3, 2009 April 27, 2015January 21, 195170 years, 223 days
Sally Jewell Secretary of the InteriorApril 12, 2013 January 20, 2017February 21, 195665 years, 192 days
Jeh Johnson Secretary of Homeland SecurityDecember 23, 2013 January 20, 2017September 11, 195763 years, 355 days
John Kerry Secretary of StateFebruary 1, 2013 January 20, 2017December 11, 194377 years, 264 days
John King Jr. Secretary of EducationSeptember 14, 2016 January 20, 2017January 5, 197546 years, 239 days
Ray LaHood Secretary of TransportationJanuary 23, 2009 July 2, 2013December 6, 194575 years, 269 days
Jacob Lew Secretary of the TreasuryFebruary 28, 2013 January 20, 2017August 29, 195566 years, 3 days
Gary Locke Secretary of CommerceMarch 26, 2009 August 1, 2011January 21, 195071 years, 223 days
Loretta Lynch Attorney GeneralApril 27, 2015 January 20, 2017May 21, 195962 years, 103 days
Robert A. McDonald Secretary of Veterans AffairsJuly 30, 2014 January 20, 2017June 20, 195368 years, 73 days
Ernest Moniz Secretary of EnergyMay 21, 2013 January 20, 2017December 22, 194476 years, 253 days
Janet Napolitano Secretary of Homeland SecurityJanuary 21, 2009 September 6, 2013November 29, 195763 years, 276 days
Leon Panetta Secretary of DefenseJuly 1, 2011 February 27, 2013June 28, 193883 years, 65 days
Thomas Perez Secretary of LaborJuly 23, 2013 January 20, 2017October 7, 196159 years, 329 days
Penny Pritzker Secretary of CommerceJune 26, 2013 January 20, 2017May 2, 195962 years, 122 days
Ken Salazar Secretary of the InteriorJanuary 20, 2009 April 12, 2013March 2, 195566 years, 183 days
Kathleen Sebelius Secretary of Health and Human ServicesApril 28, 2009 June 9, 2014May 15, 194873 years, 109 days
Eric Shinseki Secretary of Veterans AffairsJanuary 21, 2009 May 30, 2014November 28, 194278 years, 277 days
Hilda Solis Secretary of LaborFebruary 24, 2009 January 22, 2013October 20, 195763 years, 316 days
Tom Vilsack Secretary of AgricultureJanuary 20, 2009 January 13, 2017 [lower-alpha 10] December 13, 195070 years, 262 days
Donald Trump Alexander Acosta Secretary of LaborApril 28, 2017 July 19, 2019January 16, 196952 years, 228 days
Alex Azar Secretary of Health and Human ServicesJanuary 29, 2018 January 20, 2021June 17, 196754 years, 76 days
William Barr Attorney GeneralFebruary 14, 2019 December 23, 2020May 23, 195071 years, 101 days
David Bernhardt Secretary of the InteriorApril 11, 2019 January 20, 2021August 17, 196952 years, 15 days
Dan Brouillette Secretary of EnergyDecember 4, 2019 January 20, 2021August 18, 196259 years, 14 days
Ben Carson Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentMarch 2, 2017 January 20, 2021September 18, 195169 years, 348 days
Elaine Chao Secretary of TransportationJanuary 31, 2017 January 11, 2021March 26, 195368 years, 159 days
Betsy DeVos Secretary of EducationFebruary 7, 2017 January 8, 2021January 8, 195863 years, 236 days
Mark Esper Secretary of DefenseJuly 23, 2019 November 9, 2020April 26, 196457 years, 128 days
John F. Kelly Secretary of Homeland SecurityJanuary 20, 2017 July 31, 2017May 11, 195071 years, 113 days
Jim Mattis Secretary of DefenseJanuary 20, 2017 December 31, 2018September 8, 195070 years, 358 days
Steven Mnuchin Secretary of the TreasuryFebruary 13, 2017 January 20, 2021December 21, 196258 years, 254 days
Kirstjen Nielsen Secretary of Homeland SecurityDecember 6, 2017 April 10, 2019May 14, 197249 years, 110 days
Sonny Perdue Secretary of AgricultureApril 25, 2017 January 20, 2021December 20, 194674 years, 255 days
Rick Perry Secretary of EnergyMarch 2, 2017 December 1, 2019March 4, 195071 years, 181 days
Mike Pompeo Secretary of StateApril 26, 2018 January 20, 2021December 30, 196357 years, 245 days
Tom Price Secretary of Health and Human ServicesFebruary 10, 2017 September 29, 2017October 8, 195466 years, 328 days
Wilbur Ross Secretary of CommerceFebruary 28, 2017 January 20, 2021November 28, 193783 years, 277 days
Eugene Scalia Secretary of LaborSeptember 30, 2019 January 20, 2021August 14, 196358 years, 18 days
Jeff Sessions Attorney GeneralFebruary 9, 2017 November 7, 2018December 24, 194674 years, 251 days
David Shulkin Secretary of Veterans AffairsFebruary 14, 2017 March 28, 2018July 22, 195962 years, 113 days
Rex Tillerson Secretary of StateFebruary 1, 2017 March 31, 2018March 23, 195269 years, 162 days
Robert Wilkie Secretary of Veterans AffairsJuly 30, 2018 January 20, 2021August 2, 196259 years, 30 days
Ryan Zinke Secretary of the InteriorMarch 1, 2017 January 2, 2019November 1, 196159 years, 304 days

Last surviving Cabinet members of each presidency

No.Name [lower-alpha 11] PositionAdministrationTenurePost-administration timespan [lower-alpha 12] [lower-alpha 13] Lifespan [lower-alpha 14]
BornDiedAge
1 Oliver Wolcott Jr. Secretary of the Treasury Washington February 3, 1795 – March 4, 1797 [lower-alpha 15] 36 years, 89 daysJanuary 11, 1760June 1, 183373 years, 141 days
2 John Marshall Secretary of State Adams June 13, 1800 – March 4, 180134 years, 124 daysSeptember 24, 1755July 6, 183579 years, 285 days
3 Albert Gallatin Secretary of the Treasury Jefferson May 14, 1801 – March 4, 1809 [lower-alpha 16] 40 years, 161 daysJanuary 29, 1761August 12, 184988 years, 195 days
4 Richard Rush Attorney General Madison February 10, 1814 – March 4, 1817 [lower-alpha 17] 42 years, 148 daysAugust 29, 1780July 30, 185978 years, 335 days
5 Richard Rush Secretary of State (Acting) Monroe March 10, 1817 – September 22, 181734 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 daysAugust 16, 1789November 12, 186980 years, 88 days
8 Amos Kendall Postmaster General* Van Buren March 4, 1837 – May 18, 184028 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 daysDecember 28, 1789October 26, 187181 years, 302 days
10 Thomas Ewing Secretary of the Treasury* Tyler April 4, 1841 – September 11, 184126 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, 184641 years, 319 daysOctober 3, 1800January 17, 189190 years, 106 days
12 Reverdy Johnson Attorney General Taylor March 8, 1849 – July 9, 1850 [lower-alpha 22] 25 years, 216 daysMay 21, 1796February 10, 187679 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 daysApril 2, 1807February 13, 189183 years, 317 days
14 James Campbell Postmaster General Pierce March 7, 1853 – March 4, 185735 years, 329 daysSeptember 1, 1812January 27, 189380 years, 148 days
15 Horatio King Postmaster General Buchanan February 12, 1861 – March 4, 1861 [lower-alpha 24] 36 years, 82 daysJune 21, 1811May 25, 189785 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 daysDecember 7, 1808May 24, 189586 years, 168 days
17 John Schofield Secretary of War Johnson June 1, 1868 – March 4, 1869 [lower-alpha 27] 37 years, 0 daysSeptember 29, 1831March 4, 190674 years, 156 days
18 J. Donald Cameron Secretary of War Grant May 22, 1876 – March 4, 187741 years, 179 daysMay 14, 1833August 30, 191885 years, 108 days
19 Nathan Goff Jr. Secretary of the Navy Hayes January 7, 1881 – March 4, 188139 years, 50 daysFebruary 9, 1843April 23, 192077 years, 74 days
20 Robert Todd Lincoln Secretary of War Garfield [lower-alpha 28] March 5, 1881 – September 19, 188144 years, 310 daysAugust 1, 1843July 26, 192682 years, 359 days
21 Robert Todd Lincoln Secretary of War* Arthur September 19, 1881 – March 4, 188541 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 daysApril 30, 1842November 24, 192482 years, 208 days
23 John Wanamaker Postmaster General Harrison March 5, 1889 – March 4, 189329 years, 283 daysJuly 11, 1838December 12, 192284 years, 154 days
24 M. Hoke Smith Secretary of the Interior Cleveland [lower-alpha 31] March 6, 1893 – September 1, 189634 years, 268 daysSeptember 2, 1855November 27, 193176 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 daysFebruary 15, 1845February 7, 193791 years, 358 days
26 James R. Garfield Secretary of the Interior Roosevelt March 5, 1907 – March 4, 190941 years, 20 daysOctober 17, 1865March 24, 195084 years, 158 days
27 Henry L. Stimson Secretary of War [lower-alpha 34] Taft May 22, 1911 – March 4, 191337 years, 230 daysSeptember 21, 1867October 20, 195083 years, 29 days
28 Bainbridge Colby Secretary of State Wilson March 23, 1920 – March 4, 192129 years, 38 daysDecember 22, 1869April 11, 195080 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 daysAugust 10, 1874October 20, 196490 years, 71 days
30 Herbert Hoover Secretary of Commerce* Coolidge August 2, 1923 – August 21, 192835 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, 193330 years, 148 daysJanuary 8, 1883July 30, 196380 years, 203 days
32 James Farley Postmaster General Roosevelt March 4, 1933 – September 10, 194031 years, 58 daysMay 30, 1888June 9, 197688 years, 10 days
33 Charles F. Brannan Secretary of Agriculture Truman June 2, 1948 – January 20, 195339 years, 164 daysAugust 23, 1903July 2, 199288 years, 314 days
34 William P. Rogers Attorney General Eisenhower October 23, 1957 – January 20, 1961 [lower-alpha 38] 39 years, 348 daysJune 23, 1913January 2, 200187 years, 193 days
35 W. Willard Wirtz Secretary of Labor Kennedy September 25, 1962 – November 22, 1963 [lower-alpha 39] 46 years, 153 daysMarch 14, 1912April 24, 201098 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 daysDecember 18, 1927April 9, 202193 years, 112 days
37 Henry Kissinger [1] Secretary of State Nixon September 22, 1973 – August 9, 1974 [lower-alpha 40] 47 years, 23 daysMay 27, 1923(living)98 years, 97 days

Notes

  1. Continued in the same capacity in the Ford Administration.
  2. 1 2 Department now named Health and Human Services.
  3. Later served as Secretary of State in the George H. W. Bush Administration.
  4. 1 2 Continued in the same capacity in the George H. W. Bush Administration.
  5. Later served as Secretary of Labor in the George H. W. Bush Administration.
  6. Later served as Attorney General in the Trump Administration.
  7. Later served as Secretary of Transportation in the George W. Bush Administration.
  8. Later served as Secretary of Transportation in the Trump Administration.
  9. Continued in the same capacity in the Obama Administration.
  10. Later serves as Secretary of Agriculture in the Biden Administration.
  11. Italized names denotes cabinet members who have served in multiple presidencies.
  12. The post-administration duration is determined starting on the date in which a president leaves office, disregarding if a cabinet member leaves before the end of the administration.
  13. Asterisks denotes cabinet members who have served in multiple presidencies.
  14. Asterisks denotes cabinet members who have served in multiple presidencies.
  15. Continued in the same capacity during the Adams Administration until December 31, 1800.
  16. Continued in the same capacity during the Madison Administration until February 8, 1814.
  17. Continued in the same capacity during the Monroe Administration until November 12, 1817
  18. Continued in the same capacity during the Jackson Administration for 1 day (until March 5, 1829).
  19. Continued in the same capacity during the Van Buren Administration until May 18, 1840.
  20. Served as Secretary of the Interior during the Taylor and Fillmore Administrations (15 days) from March 8, 1849 to July 22, 1850.
  21. Continued in the same capacity during the Tyler Administration until September 11, 1841.
  22. Continued in the same capacity during the Fillmore Administration until July 21, 1850
  23. Continued in the same capacity during the Pierce Administration for 3 days (until March 7, 1853).
  24. Continued in the same capacity during the Lincoln Administration for 1 day (until March 5, 1861).
  25. Served in the same capacity during the Arthur and Cleveland Administrations (3 days) from October 31, 1884 to March 7, 1885.
  26. Continued in the same capacity during the Johnson Administration until March 3, 1869
  27. Continued in the same capacity during the Grant Administration for 9 days (until March 12, 1869).
  28. Continued in the same capacity during the Arthur Administration.
  29. First Cleveland Administration (1885 – 1889)
  30. Continued in the same capacity during the Harrison Administration for 2 days (until March 6, 1893).
  31. Smith was the last surviving member of the Second Cleveland Administration (1893 – 1897) and of both Cleveland Administrations.
  32. Served as Secretary of State during the Roosevelt Administration from July 19, 1905 to January 27, 1909.
  33. Continued in the same capacity during the Theodore Roosevelt Administration until January 31, 1904.
  34. Served as Secretary of State during the Hoover Administration from March 28, 1929 to March 4, 1933. Continued in the same capacity as Secretary of War during the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration from July 10, 1940 to September 21, 1945.
  35. Later served as President of the United States from 1929 to 1933.
  36. Continued in the same capacity during the Coolidge Administration until August 21, 1928.
  37. Hurley, despite Hoover outliving him by a year, is considered to be the last surviving cabinet member of the Hoover Administration as the president is not formally considered part of the cabinet.
  38. Served as Secretary of State during the Nixon Administration from January 22, 1969 to September 3, 1973.
  39. Continued in the same capacity during the Johnson Administration until January 20, 1969.
  40. Continued in the same capacity during the Ford Administration from August 9, 1974 to January 20, 1977.

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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.

United States Attorney General Head of the United States Department of Justice

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 Haig Former U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Army general

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.

United States presidential line of succession Order by which officers of the U.S. federal government fill the vacant office of president of the U.S.

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.

White House Chief of Staff American Presidential appointee

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.

Presidency of Gerald Ford U.S. presidential administration from 1974 to 1977

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 B. Saxbe American politician

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 Morton American politician

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

John Albert Knebel is a former United States government official who served as Secretary of Agriculture under President Gerald Ford.

Counselor to the President American political position

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 Ford 38th president of the United States (1974–77)

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.

Presidential transition of Richard Nixon

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.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Secretaries of Energy". Office of Management, United States Department of Energy. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Addison Baker III (1930–)". Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  4. "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Madeleine Korbel Albright (1937–)". Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  5. "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Colin Luther Powell (1937–)". Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  6. "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Condoleezza Rice (1954–)". Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  7. "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947–)". Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State. Retrieved October 17, 2016.