List of female United States Cabinet Secretaries

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Madeline Albright wearing a dark blouse and coat, with an eagle badge on her left shoulder
Condoleezza Rice smiling with thickly applied red lipstick wearing a dark blue jacket over a patterned blouse. The United States flag is in the background.
Hillary Clinton wearing a dark jacket over an orange blouse. The United States flag is in the background.
Madeleine Albright (left), Condoleezza Rice (center), and Hillary Rodham Clinton (right) are the highest-ranking women in the history of the Cabinet, having held the post of Secretary of State, the most senior cabinet position.

The United States Cabinet has had 25 female officers. No woman held a Cabinet position before the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920, which prohibits states and the federal government from denying any citizen the right to vote because of that citizen's sex.[1]

Frances Perkins was the first woman to serve in the Cabinet; she was appointed Secretary of Labor in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.[2][3] Oveta Culp Hobby became the second woman to serve in the Cabinet,[4] when she was named head of the then newly formed Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1953.[5] This department was subdivided into the departments of Education and Health and Human Services in 1979.[5] Patricia Roberts Harris, who was Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare before the department split and had earlier served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 1977, became the first female Secretary of Health and Human Services in 1979. Harris was also the first African American woman to serve in the Cabinet.[6]

Former North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole is the first woman to have served in two different Cabinet positions in two different administrations. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as Secretary of Transportation in 1983, and was the Secretary of Labor during the tenure of George H. W. Bush—Reagan's successor.[7] Czechoslovakia-born Madeleine Albright became the first foreign-born woman to serve in the Cabinet when she was appointed Secretary of State in 1997.[a][8] Her appointment also made her the highest-ranking female Cabinet member at that time.[b][8] Condoleezza Rice was appointed Secretary of State in 2005, and thus became the highest-ranking woman in the United States presidential line of succession in history.[9] In 2006, Nancy Pelosi replaced Rice as the highest-ranking woman in line when she was elected Speaker of the House.[10][11] President George W. Bush appointed six women to Cabinet-level positions, the most of any Presidency.

In 2009, President Barack Obama named four women to the Cabinet—former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano as Secretary of Homeland Security, former First Lady and New York Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, former California Representative Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor, and former Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services.[12][13][14][15] Clinton became the first First Lady to serve in the Cabinet and the third female Secretary of State.[13] Napolitano became the first female Secretary of Homeland Security.[12]

The Department of Labor has had the most female Secretaries with seven.[16] The departments of Health and Human Services and State follow with three, and the departments of Commerce, Education, Housing and Urban Development and Transportation have each had two.[16] The defunct Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has also had two female Secretaries.[16] The three existing departments of Defense, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs have not had women Secretaries.[17][18][19]

Contents

Female Secretaries [edit]

Current departments [edit]

A woman wearing a veil and furry scarf holds her right hand over her chest.
Frances Perkins was the first woman to hold a Cabinet-level position.
Woman with greying dark hair wearing a white turtleneck
Patricia Roberts Harris was the first African American woman to serve in the Cabinet.
Woman with light-brown hair wearing a red top
Elizabeth Dole is the first woman to serve in two different Cabinet positions in two different administrations.

Numerical order represents the seniority of the Secretaries in the United States presidential line of succession.

 *  denotes the first female secretary of that particular department.

Secretary # Position Year
appointed		 Party Administration References
Albright, MadeleineMadeleine Albright*[b] 70001000000000000001 Secretary of State 70031997000000000001997 Democratic Bill Clinton [20]
Rice, CondoleezzaCondoleezza Rice 70002000000000000001 Secretary of State 70032005000000000002005 Republican George W. Bush [9]
Clinton, Hillary RodhamHillary Rodham Clinton 70003000000000000001 Secretary of State 70032009000000000002009 Democratic Barack Obama [13]
7003300000000000000 —[c] 70004000000000000002 Secretary of the Treasury  —[c]  —[c]  —[c]  —
7003300000000000000 —[d] 70005000000000000003 Secretary of Defense  —[d]  —[d]  —[d]  —
Reno, JanetJanet Reno* 70006000000000000004 Attorney General 70031993000000000001993 Democratic Bill Clinton [21]
Norton, GaleGale Norton* 70007000000000000005 Secretary of the Interior 70032001000000000002001 Republican George W. Bush [22]
Jewell, SallySally Jewell 70003000000000000005 Secretary of the Interior 70032013000000000002013 Democratic Barack Obama
Veneman, AnnAnn Veneman* 70008000000000000006 Secretary of Agriculture 70032001000000000002001 Republican George W. Bush [23]
Kreps, Juanita M.Juanita M. Kreps* 70009000000000000007 Secretary of Commerce 70031977000000000001977 Democratic Jimmy Carter [24]
Franklin, Barbara HackmanBarbara Hackman Franklin 70011000000000000007 Secretary of Commerce 70031992000000000001992 Republican George H. W. Bush [25][26]
Perkins, FrancesFrances Perkins* 70011100000000000008 Secretary of Labor 70031933000000000001933 Democratic Franklin D. Roosevelt [2][3]
McLaughlin, Ann DoreAnn Dore McLaughlin 70011200000000000008 Secretary of Labor 70031987000000000001987 Republican Ronald Reagan [27]
Dole, ElizabethElizabeth Dole 70011300000000000008 Secretary of Labor 70031989000000000001989 Republican George H. W. Bush [7]
Martin, Lynn MorleyLynn Morley Martin 70011400000000000008 Secretary of Labor 70031991000000000001991 Republican George H. W. Bush [28]
Herman, AlexisAlexis Herman 70011500000000000008 Secretary of Labor 70031997000000000001997 Democratic Bill Clinton [29]
Chao, ElaineElaine Chao[a] 70011600000000000008 Secretary of Labor 70032001000000000002001 Republican George W. Bush [30]
Solis, HildaHilda Solis 70011700000000000008 Secretary of Labor 70032009000000000002009 Democratic Barack Obama [14]
Harris, Patricia RobertsPatricia Roberts Harris* 70011800000000000009 Secretary of Health and Human Services 70031979000000000001979 Democratic Jimmy Carter [6]
Heckler, MargaretMargaret Heckler 70011900000000000009 Secretary of Health and Human Services 70031983000000000001983 Republican Ronald Reagan [31]
Shalala, DonnaDonna Shalala 70012000000000000009 Secretary of Health and Human Services 70031993000000000001993 Democratic Bill Clinton [32]
Sebelius, KathleenKathleen Sebelius 70012100000000000009 Secretary of Health and Human Services 70032009000000000002009 Democratic Barack Obama [15]
Hills, Carla AndersonCarla Anderson Hills* 700122000000000000010 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 70031975000000000001975 Republican Gerald Ford [33]
Harris, Patricia RobertsPatricia Roberts Harris 700123000000000000010 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 70031977000000000001977 Democratic Jimmy Carter [6]
Dole, ElizabethElizabeth Dole* 700124000000000000011 Secretary of Transportation 70031983000000000001983 Republican Ronald Reagan [7]
Cino, MariaMaria Cino 700125000000000000011 Secretary of Transportation (acting) 70032006000000000002006 Republican George W. Bush [34]
Peters, MaryMary Peters 700126000000000000011 Secretary of Transportation 70032006000000000002006 Republican George W. Bush [34]
O'Leary, Hazel R.Hazel R. O'Leary* 700127000000000000012 Secretary of Energy 70031993000000000001993 Democratic Bill Clinton [35]
Hufstedler, ShirleyShirley Hufstedler* 700128000000000000013 Secretary of Education 70031979000000000001979 Democratic Jimmy Carter [36]
Spellings, MargaretMargaret Spellings 700129000000000000013 Secretary of Education 70032005000000000002005 Republican George W. Bush [37]
7003300000000000000 —[e] 700130000000000000014 Secretary of Veterans Affairs  —[e]  —[e]  —[e]  —
Napolitano, JanetJanet Napolitano* 700131000000000000015 Secretary of Homeland Security 70032009000000000002009 Democratic Barack Obama [12]

Defunct departments [edit]

The departments are listed in order of their establishment (earliest first).

 *  denotes the first female secretary of that particular department.

Secretary # Position Year
appointed		 Party Administration References
7003300000000000000 —[f] 70001000000000000001 Postmaster General  —[f]  —[f]  —[f]  —
7003300000000000000 —[g] 70002000000000000002 Secretary of the Navy  —[g]  —[g]  —[g]  —
7003300000000000000 —[h] 70003000000000000003 Secretary of War  —[h]  —[h]  —[h]  —
7003300000000000000 —[i] 70004000000000000004 Secretary of Commerce and Labor  —[i]  —[i]  —[i]  —
Hobby, Oveta CulpOveta Culp Hobby* 70005000000000000005 Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare 70031953000000000001953 Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower [4]
Harris, Patricia RobertsPatricia Roberts Harris 70006000000000000005 Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare 70031979000000000001979 Democratic Jimmy Carter [6]

See also [edit]

Notes [edit]

  • a Elaine Chao became the second foreign-born woman to serve in the Cabinet when she was appointed Secretary of Labor in 2001.[30]
  • b The Secretary of State, as the most senior Cabinet position, is the first Cabinet member in the line of succession and the fourth overall.[11] Albright was ineligible to serve in the line of succession due to her foreign birth.[11][38]
  • c The Department of the Treasury was established in 1789; no woman has served yet.[17]
  • d The Department of Defense was established in 1947; no woman has served yet.[18]
  • e The Department of Veterans Affairs was established in 1989; no woman has served yet.[19]
  • f The Postmaster General ceased to be a member of the Cabinet when the Post Office Department was re-organized into the United States Postal Service, a special agency independent of the executive branch, by the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act. No woman had ever served while it was a Cabinet post.[39]
  • g The Secretary of the Navy ceased to be a member of the Cabinet when the Department of the Navy was absorbed into the Department of Defense in 1947. No woman had ever served while it was a Cabinet post. Susan Livingstone was the first woman to serve in that post from 2001 to 2003 when it is a position beneath the Secretary of Defense.[40][41]
  • h The position of Secretary of War became defunct when the Department of War became the Department of Defense in 1947. No woman had ever served while it was a Cabinet post.[40]
  • i The position of Secretary of Commerce and Labor became defunct when the Department of Commerce and Labor was subdivided into two separate entities in 1913. No woman had ever served while it was a Cabinet post.[42]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "The Constitution of the United States: Amendments 11–27". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved November 14, 2008. 
  2. ^ a b "Frances Perkins, The First Woman In Cabinet, Is Dead". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). May 15, 1965. Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  3. ^ a b Villard, Oswald G. (December 8, 2008). "Roosevelt to Appoint First-Ever Female Cabinet Member". The Nation. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
  4. ^ a b Barron, James (August 17, 1995). "Oveta Culp Hobby, Founder of the WACs And First Secretary of Health, Dies at 90". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved November 14, 2008. 
  5. ^ a b "Historical Highlights". United States Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved November 14, 2008. 
  6. ^ a b c d "Patricia Roberts Harris". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 14, 2008. 
  7. ^ a b c "Dole, Elizabeth Hanford, (1936 – )". United States Congress. Retrieved January 13, 2009. 
  8. ^ a b "Albright: Lift 'foreign' presidents bar". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). September 19, 2000. Retrieved November 14, 2008. 
  9. ^ a b "Condoleezza Rice". White House. Retrieved November 14, 2008. 
  10. ^ "Pelosi, Nancy, (1940 – )". United States Congress. Retrieved November 16, 2008. 
  11. ^ a b c "U.S. Code: Title 3, 19. Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act". Cornell University Law School. Retrieved November 16, 2008. 
  12. ^ a b c Hulse, Carl (January 20, 2009). "Obama Is Sworn In as the 44th President". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). p. 2. Retrieved January 21, 2009. 
  13. ^ a b c Stout, David (January 21, 2009). "Clinton Is Approved, but Vote on Holder Is Delayed". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved January 21, 2009. 
  14. ^ a b "Senate Confirms Solis as Labor Secretary". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). February 25, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2009. 
  15. ^ a b Pear, Robert (April 28, 2009). "Senate Confirms Sebelius as Health Secretary". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved April 28, 2009. 
  16. ^ a b c "Women Appointed to Presidential Cabinets" (PDF). Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
  17. ^ a b "History of the Treasury: Secretaries of the Treasury". United States Department of the Treasury. Retrieved November 8, 2008. 
  18. ^ a b "Histories of the Secretaries of Defense". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved November 8, 2008. 
  19. ^ a b "Fact Sheet: Facts About the Department of Veterans Affairs". United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  20. ^ Mitchell, Alison (December 6, 1996). "Albright to Head State Dept.; Republican in Top Defense Job". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  21. ^ Berke, Richard L. (February 12, 1993). "Clinton Picks Miami Woman, Veteran State Prosecutor, to be his Attorney General". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  22. ^ Alvarez, Lizette (January 31, 2001). "Senate Confirms Nominees For E.P.A. and Interior Posts". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  23. ^ "Press Release: Secretary-General Appoints Ann M. Veneman, United States Secretary of Agriculture, as Executive Director of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)". United Nations. Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  24. ^ Charlton, Linda (December 21, 1976). "Juanita Morris Kreps". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  25. ^ Bradsher, Keith (December 27, 1991). "Bush Picks Nominee For Commerce Post". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved November 18, 2008. 
  26. ^ "The Honorable Barbara Hackman Franklin" (PDF). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. May 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2008. 
  27. ^ "Panel Backs McLaughlin". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). December 10, 1987. Retrieved January 10, 2009. 
  28. ^ Lewis, Neil (December 15, 1990). "Woman in the News: Judith Lynn Morley Martin; For Labor, a Bush Loyalist". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved January 10, 2009. 
  29. ^ Gray, Jerry (May 1, 1997). "After Impasse, Senate Confirms Clinton's Choice for Labor Post". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved January 10, 2009. 
  30. ^ a b "About Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao". United States Department of Labor. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
  31. ^ "Margaret Heckler Takes Oath as U.S. Secretary of Health". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). March 10, 1983. Retrieved January 10, 2009. 
  32. ^ Toner, Robin (January 16, 2001). "Before Leaving Health Agency, Shalala Offers a Little Advice on a Big Job". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
  33. ^ Madden, Richard L. (March 11, 1975). "Ford Praises Mrs. Hills as Oath is Administered". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  34. ^ a b Hauser, Christine (September 5, 2006). "Bush Nominates New Transportation Secretary". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved January 10, 2009. 
  35. ^ Ifill, Gwen (December 21, 1992). "Clinton to Select Woman as Energy Secretary, His Aides Say". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  36. ^ "Secretary of Education Is Confirmed by 81 to 2". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). December 1, 1979. Retrieved November 9, 2008. 
  37. ^ Schemo, Diana Jean (November 18, 2004). "Bush Nominates a Close Adviser for Top Education Post". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved January 10, 2009. 
  38. ^ "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved November 16, 2008. 
  39. ^ "The United States Postal Service — An American History 1775 – 2002". United States Postal Service. September 2003. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
  40. ^ a b "Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved November 15, 2008. 
  41. ^ "Secretaries of the Navy". Department of the Navy. Retrieved November 16, 2008. 
  42. ^ "General Records of the Department of Commerce". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved November 15, 2008. 
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