The Presidential Cabinet

The Presidential Cabinet — page 1 — (cid:3) (cid:3) TABLE OF CONTENTS (cid:144)(cid:3)(cid:144)(cid:3)(cid:144) 4 INTRODUCTION In the 1790s running the United States government was a job full of surprises No one had done it before 7 CHAPTER NO_ 1 NOT IN THE INSTRUCTIONS There is not a word in the U S Constitution about the president’s cabinet Yet the 16 people in the cabinet today are among the most powerful in the U S 27 CHAPTER NO_ 3 THE NATURE OF THE JOB President Andrew Jackson found shortly after he became president in 1829 that his strategy for pick ing cabinet chiefs had backfired Over time he came to distrust at least three of them 17 CHAPTER NO_ 2 SUPERSTAR SECRETARIES A president chooses cabinet members based on their area of experience Those who helped the president get elected are also often given cabinet posts But it’s not all about politics 37 CHAPTER NO_ 4 CHANGING CHALLENGES From an original cabinet of 4 departments to today’s group of 15 the scope of the cabinet has reflected the ever-increasing complexity of the country

The Presidential Cabinet — page 2 — 46 Endnotes 47 Selected Bibliography 47 Websites 48 Index REFERENCE WE THE PEOPLE 9 AARON BURR An early dueling cabinet member 10 ALBERT GALLATIN Longest-serving treasury secretary 19 JOHN H REAGAN Postmaster general for the CSA 20 JOHN HAY Advocate of Open Door with China 29 FRANCES PERKINS First female cabinet member 30 ROBERT STRANGE MCNAMARA 1960s secretary of defense 39 ROBERT C WEAVER First black cabinet memeber 40 ELLIOT RICHARDSON Holder of most cabinet positions

The Presidential Cabinet — page 3 — INTRODUCTION In the 1790s running the United States government was a job full of surprises No one had done it before THE PRESIDENTIAL CABINET The highest officials were like the founders of modern companies who start out working by themselves in their garages Edmund Randolph the first attorney general of the U S was in such a position He had to set up a government agency without any money from Congress Ran dolph’s job was to provide legal advice to the president and members of Congress He also had to represent the government in cases before the Supreme Court But to make ends meet he took on private legal work The next 21 attorneys general until 1853 continued this practice of dual careers Today that wouldn’t be allowed since it could lead to many conflicts of interest It’s an example of how history and circum stance have drastically changed the roles of presidential cabinet mem bers It is also evidence of how those in office have changed to respond to the needs determined by the people 4

The Presidential Cabinet — page 4 — Attorney General Randolph was among four oﬃcials in Washington’s cabinet

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