List of living former members of the United States Cabinet
The following is a list of Living former members of the United States Cabinet. 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 as he (or she) performs 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 and the Postmaster General. Individuals who served in these capacities 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 Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963–1969) are still living, including all former cabinet members from the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. The oldest living former cabinet member is William Coleman, Secretary of Transportation during the Ford Administration. The youngest living former cabinet member is Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Obama Administration.
L. B. Johnson Administration (1963–1969)
There are three former members of Lyndon B. Johnson's Cabinet still living.
Name |
Position |
Tenure |
Birthdate |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alan Boyd |
Secretary of Transportation |
January 16, 1967 – January 20, 1969 |
July 20, 1922 |
|
Ramsey Clark |
Attorney General |
March 10, 1967 – January 20, 1969 |
December 18, 1927 |
|
Marvin Watson |
Postmaster General |
April 26, 1968 – January 20, 1969 |
June 6, 1924 |
Nixon Administration (1969–1974)
There are four former members of Richard Nixon's Cabinet still living.
Name |
Position |
Tenure |
Birthdate |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Frederick Dent |
Secretary of Commerce |
February 2, 1973 – August 9, 1974 |
August 17, 1922 |
|
Henry Kissinger |
Secretary of State |
September 22, 1973 – August 9, 1974 |
May 27, 1923 |
|
Peter Peterson |
Secretary of Commerce |
February 29, 1972 – February 1, 1973 |
June 5, 1926 |
|
George Shultz |
Secretary of Labor |
January 22, 1969 – July 1, 1970 |
December 13, 1920 |
Ford Administration (1974–1977)
There are seven former members of Gerald Ford's Cabinet still living.
Name |
Position |
Tenure |
Birthdate |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
William Coleman |
Secretary of Transportation |
March 7, 1975 – January 20, 1977 |
July 7, 1920 |
|
Frederick Dent |
Secretary of Commerce |
August 9, 1974 – March 26, 1975 |
August 17, 1922 |
|
Carla Hills |
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
March 10, 1975 – January 20, 1977 |
January 3, 1934 |
|
Henry Kissinger |
Secretary of State |
August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977 |
May 27, 1923 |
|
John Knebel |
Secretary of Agriculture |
November 4, 1976 – January 20, 1977 |
October 4, 1936 |
|
David Mathews |
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare |
August 8, 1975 – January 20, 1977 |
December 6, 1935 |
|
Donald Rumsfeld |
Secretary of Defense |
November 20, 1975 – January 20, 1977 |
July 9, 1932 |
Carter Administration (1977–1981)
There are 10 former members of Jimmy Carter's Cabinet still living.
Name |
Position |
Tenure |
Birthdate |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cecil Andrus |
Secretary of the Interior |
January 23, 1977 – January 20, 1981 |
August 25, 1931 |
|
Robert Bergland |
Secretary of Agriculture |
January 23, 1977 – January 20, 1981 |
July 22, 1928 |
|
Michael Blumenthal |
Secretary of the Treasury |
January 23, 1977 – August 4, 1979 |
January 3, 1926 |
|
Harold Brown |
Secretary of Defense |
January 21, 1977 – January 20, 1981 |
September 19, 1927 |
|
Joseph Califano |
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare |
January 25, 1977 – August 3, 1979 |
May 15, 1931 |
|
Benjamin Civiletti |
Attorney General |
August 16, 1979 – January 19, 1981 |
July 17, 1935 |
|
Charles Duncan |
Secretary of Energy |
August 24, 1979 – January 20, 1981 |
September 9, 1926 |
|
Neil Goldschmidt |
Secretary of Transportation |
August 15, 1979 – January 20, 1981 |
June 16, 1940 |
|
Moon Landrieu |
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
September 24, 1979 – January 20, 1981 |
July 23, 1930 |
|
Ray Marshall |
Secretary of Labor |
January 27, 1977 – January 20, 1981 |
August 22, 1928 |
Reagan Administration (1981–1989)
There are 18 former members of Ronald Reagan's Cabinet still living.
Name |
Position |
Tenure |
Birthdate |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
James Baker |
Secretary of the Treasury |
February 4, 1985 – August 17, 1988 |
April 28, 1930 |
|
William Bennett |
Secretary of Education |
February 6, 1985 – September 20, 1988 |
July 31, 1943 |
|
John Block |
Secretary of Agriculture |
January 23, 1981 – February 14, 1986 |
February 15, 1935 |
|
Nicholas Brady |
Secretary of the Treasury |
September 15, 1988 – January 20, 1989 |
April 11, 1930 |
|
Bill Brock |
Secretary of Labor |
April 29, 1985 – October 31, 1987 |
November 23, 1930 |
|
James Burnley |
Secretary of Transportation |
December 2, 1987 – January 30, 1989 |
July 30, 1948 |
|
Frank Carlucci |
Secretary of Defense |
November 23, 1987 – January 20, 1989 |
October 18, 1930 |
|
Lauro Cavazos |
Secretary of Education |
September 20, 1988 – January 20, 1989 |
January 4, 1927 |
|
Elizabeth Dole |
Secretary of Transportation |
February 7, 1983 – September 30, 1987 |
July 29, 1936 |
|
Ray Donovan |
Secretary of Labor |
February 4, 1981 – March 15, 1985 |
August 31, 1930 |
|
Margaret Heckler |
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
March 9, 1983 – December 13, 1985 |
June 21, 1931 |
|
John Herrington |
Secretary of Energy |
February 7, 1985 – January 20, 1989 |
May 31, 1939 |
|
Donald Hodel |
Secretary of Energy |
November 5, 1982 – February 7, 1985 |
May 23, 1935 |
|
Ann Korologos |
Secretary of Labor |
December 17, 1987 – January 20, 1989 |
November 16, 1941 |
|
Edwin Meese |
Attorney General |
February 25, 1985 – July 5, 1988 |
December 2, 1931 |
|
George Shultz |
Secretary of State |
July 16, 1982 – January 20, 1989 |
December 13, 1920 |
|
[...] Thornburgh |
Attorney General |
August 15, 1988 – January 20, 1989 |
July 16, 1932 |
|
James Watt |
Secretary of the Interior |
January 23, 1981 – November 8, 1983 |
January 31, 1938 |
G. H. W. Bush Administration (1989–1993)
There are 15 former members of George H. W. Bush's Cabinet still living.
Name |
Position |
Tenure |
Birthdate |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lamar Alexander |
Secretary of Education |
March 22, 1991 – January 20, 1993 |
July 3, 1940 |
|
James Baker |
Secretary of State |
January 20, 1989 – August 23, 1992 |
April 28, 1930 |
|
William Barr |
Attorney General |
November 26, 1991 – January 20, 1993 |
May 23, 1950 |
|
Nicholas Brady |
Secretary of the Treasury |
January 20, 1989 – January 17, 1993 |
April 11, 1930 |
|
Andrew Card |
Secretary of Transportation |
February 24, 1992 – January 20, 1993 |
May 10, 1947 |
|
Lauro Cavazos |
Secretary of Education |
January 20, 1989 – December 12, 1990 |
January 4, 1927 |
|
[...] Cheney |
Secretary of Defense |
March 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 |
January 30, 1941 |
|
Elizabeth Dole |
Secretary of Labor |
January 25, 1989 – November 23, 1990 |
July 29, 1936 |
|
Barbara Franklin |
Secretary of Commerce |
February 27, 1992 – January 20, 1993 |
March 19, 1940 |
|
Manuel Lujan |
Secretary of the Interior |
February 3, 1989 – January 20, 1993 |
May 12, 1928 |
|
Lynn Martin |
Secretary of Labor |
February 22, 1991 – January 20, 1993 |
December 26, 1939 |
|
Samuel Skinner |
Secretary of Transportation |
February 6, 1989 – December 15, 1991 |
June 10, 1938 |
|
Louis Sullivan |
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
March 1, 1989 – January 20, 1993 |
November 3, 1933 |
|
[...] Thornburgh |
Attorney General |
January 20, 1989 – August 15, 1991 |
July 16, 1932 |
|
Clayton Yeutter |
Secretary of Agriculture |
February 16, 1989 – March 1, 1991 |
December 10, 1930 |
Clinton Administration (1993–2001)
There are 22 former members of Bill Clinton's Cabinet still living.
Name |
Position |
Tenure |
Birthdate |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Madeleine Albright |
Secretary of State |
January 23, 1997–January 20, 2001 |
May 15, 1937 |
|
Bruce Babbitt |
Secretary of the Interior |
January 22, 1993 – January 2, 2001 |
June 27, 1938 |
|
Henry Cisneros |
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
January 22, 1993 – January 19, 1997 |
June 11, 1947 |
|
William Cohen |
Secretary of Defense |
January 24, 1997 – January 20, 2001 |
August 28, 1940 |
|
Andrew Cuomo |
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
January 29, 1997 – January 20, 2001 |
December 6, 1957 |
|
William Daley |
Secretary of Commerce |
January 30, 1997 – July 19, 2000 |
August 8, 1948 |
|
Mike Espy |
Secretary of Agriculture |
January 22, 1993 – December 31, 1994 |
November 30, 1953 |
|
Dan Glickman |
Secretary of Agriculture |
March 30, 1995 – January 19, 2001 |
November 24, 1944 |
|
Alexis Herman |
Secretary of Labor |
May 1, 1997 – January 20, 2001 |
July 16, 1947 |
|
Mickey Kantor |
Secretary of Commerce |
April 12, 1996 – January 21, 1997 |
August 7, 1939 |
|
Norman Mineta |
Secretary of Commerce |
July 20, 2000 – January 20, 2001 |
November 12, 1931 |
|
Hazel O'Leary |
Secretary of Energy |
January 22, 1993 – January 20, 1997 |
May 17, 1937 |
|
Federico Peña |
Secretary of Transportation |
January 21, 1993 – February 14, 1997 |
March 15, 1947 |
|
William Perry |
Secretary of Defense |
February 3, 1994 – January 23, 1997 |
October 11, 1927 |
|
Robert Reich |
Secretary of Labor |
January 22, 1993 – January 10, 1997 |
June 24, 1946 |
|
Bill Richardson |
Secretary of Energy |
August 18, 1998 – January 20, 2001 |
November 15, 1947 |
|
Richard Riley |
Secretary of Education |
January 21, 1993 – January 20, 2001 |
January 2, 1933 |
|
Robert Rubin |
Secretary of the Treasury |
January 11, 1995 – July 2, 1999 |
August 29, 1938 |
|
Donna Shalala |
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
January 22, 1993 – January 20, 2001 |
February 14, 1941 |
|
Rodney Slater |
Secretary of Transportation |
February 14, 1997 – January 20, 2001 |
February 23, 1955 |
|
Lawrence Summers |
Secretary of the Treasury |
July 2, 1999 – January 20, 2001 |
November 30, 1954 |
|
Togo West |
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
May 5, 1998 – July 10, 2000 |
June 21, 1942 |
|
G. W. Bush Administration (2001–2009)
There are 34 former members of George W. Bush's Cabinet still living.
Name |
Position |
Tenure |
Birthdate |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Spencer Abraham |
Secretary of Energy |
January 20, 2001 – February 1, 2005 |
June 12, 1952 |
|
John Ashcroft |
Attorney General |
February 2, 2001 – February 3, 2005 |
May 9, 1942 |
|
Samuel Bodman |
Secretary of Energy |
January 31, 2005 – January 20, 2009 |
November 26, 1938 |
|
Elaine Chao |
Secretary of Labor |
January 29, 2001 – January 20, 2009 |
March 26, 1953 |
|
Michael Chertoff |
Secretary of Homeland Security |
February 15, 2005 – January 21, 2009 |
November 28, 1953 |
|
Donald Evans |
Secretary of Commerce |
January 20, 2001 – February 7, 2005 |
July 27, 1946 |
|
Robert Gates |
Secretary of Defense |
December 18, 2006 – January 20, 2009 |
September 25, 1943 |
|
Alberto Gonzales |
Attorney General |
February 3, 2005 – September 17, 2007 |
August 4, 1955 |
|
Carlos Gutierrez |
Secretary of Commerce |
February 7, 2005 – January 20, 2009 |
November 4, 1953 |
|
Alphonso Jackson |
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
March 31, 2004 – April 18, 2008 |
September 9, 1945 |
|
Mike Johanns |
Secretary of Agriculture |
January 21, 2005 – September 20, 2007 |
June 18, 1950 |
|
Dirk Kempthorne |
Secretary of the Interior |
June 7, 2006 – January 20, 2009 |
October 29, 1951 |
|
Mike Leavitt |
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
January 26, 2005 – January 20, 2009 |
February 11, 1951 |
|
Mel Martínez |
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
January 24, 2001 – December 13, 2003 |
October 23, 1946 |
|
Norman Mineta |
Secretary of Transportation |
January 25, 2001 – July 7, 2006 |
November 12, 1931 |
|
Michael Mukasey |
Attorney General |
November 9, 2007 – January 20, 2009 |
July 28, 1941 |
|
Jim Nicholson |
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
January 26, 2005 – October 1, 2007 |
February 4, 1938 |
|
Gale Norton |
Secretary of the Interior |
January 31, 2001 – March 31, 2006 |
March 11, 1954 |
|
Paul O'Neill |
Secretary of the Treasury |
January 20, 2001 – December 31, 2002 |
December 4, 1935 |
|
Rod Paige |
Secretary of Education |
January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2005 |
June 17, 1933 |
|
Henry Paulson |
Secretary of the Treasury |
July 3, 2006 – January 20, 2009 |
March 28, 1946 |
|
James Peake |
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
December 20, 2007 – January 20, 2009 |
June 18, 1944 |
|
Mary Peters |
Secretary of Transportation |
October 17, 2006 – January 20, 2009 |
December 4, 1948 |
|
Colin Powell |
Secretary of State |
January 20, 2001 – January 26, 2005 |
April 5, 1937 |
|
Steve Preston |
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
June 5, 2008 – January 20, 2009 |
August 4, 1960 |
|
Anthony Principi |
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
January 23, 2001 – January 26, 2005 |
April 16, 1944 |
|
Condoleezza Rice |
Secretary of State |
January 26, 2005 – January 20, 2009 |
November 14, 1954 |
|
Tom Ridge |
Secretary of Homeland Security |
January 24, 2003 – February 1, 2005 |
August 26, 1945 |
|
Donald Rumsfeld |
Secretary of Defense |
January 20, 2001 – December 18, 2006 |
July 9, 1932 |
|
Ed Schafer |
Secretary of Agriculture |
January 28, 2008 – January 20, 2009 |
August 8, 1946 |
|
John Snow |
Secretary of the Treasury |
February 3, 2003 – June 28, 2006 |
August 2, 1939 |
|
Margaret Spellings |
Secretary of Education |
January 20, 2005 – January 20, 2009 |
November 30, 1957 |
|
Tommy Thompson |
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
February 2, 2001 – January 26, 2005 |
November 19, 1941 |
|
Ann Veneman |
Secretary of Agriculture |
January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2005 |
June 29, 1949 |
Obama Administration (Since 2009)
There are 17 former members of Barack Obama's Cabinet still living.
Name |
Position |
Tenure |
Birthdate |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
John Bryson |
Secretary of Commerce |
October 21, 2011 – June 21, 2012 |
July 24, 1943 |
|
Steven Chu |
Secretary of Energy |
January 21, 2009 – April 22, 2013 |
February 28, 1948 |
|
Hillary Clinton |
Secretary of State |
January 21, 2009 – February 1, 2013 |
October 26, 1947 |
|
Shaun Donovan |
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
January 26, 2009 – July 28, 2014 |
January 24, 1966 |
|
Arne Duncan |
Secretary of Education |
January 21, 2009 – January 1, 2016 |
November 6, 1964 |
|
Robert Gates |
Secretary of Defense |
January 20, 2009 – June 30, 2011 |
September 25, 1943 |
|
Timothy Geithner |
Secretary of the Treasury |
January 26, 2009 – January 25, 2013 |
August 18, 1961 |
|
Chuck Hagel |
Secretary of Defense |
February 27, 2013 – February 17, 2015 |
October 4, 1946 |
|
Eric Holder |
Attorney General |
February 3, 2009 – April 27, 2015 |
January 21, 1951 |
|
Ray LaHood |
Secretary of Transportation |
January 23, 2009 – July 2, 2013 |
December 6, 1945 |
|
Gary Locke |
Secretary of Commerce |
March 26, 2009 – August 1, 2011 |
January 21, 1950 |
|
Janet Napolitano |
Secretary of Homeland Security |
January 21, 2009 – September 6, 2013 |
November 29, 1957 |
|
Leon Panetta |
Secretary of Defense |
July 1, 2011 – February 27, 2013 |
June 28, 1938 |
|
Ken Salazar |
Secretary of the Interior |
January 20, 2009 – April 12, 2013 |
March 2, 1955 |
|
Kathleen Sebelius |
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
April 28, 2009 – June 9, 2014 |
May 15, 1948 |
|
Eric Shinseki |
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
January 21, 2009 – May 30, 2014 |
November 28, 1942 |
|
Hilda Solis |
Secretary of Labor |
February 24, 2009 – January 22, 2013 |
October 20, 1957 |