United States Senate Democratic Conference Secretary
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The United States Senate Democratic Conference Secretary, also called the Caucus Secretary, is a ranking leadership position within the Democratic Party in the United States Senate. It was previously considered the number-three position, behind the party's floor leader and the party's whip, until in 2006, when Democratic leader Harry Reid created the new position of Vice-Chairman of the caucus. Now, the secretary is the fourth-highest ranking position. The conference secretary is responsible for taking notes and aiding the party leadership when senators of the party meet or caucus together.[1]
The first conference secretary was Sen. Edward W. Carmack of Tennessee, who was elected in March 1903.[2]
The current conference secretary is Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, and the secretary-designate is Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, who will assume the office in January, 2017.
List of Conference Secretaries
Conference Secretary | State | Term |
---|---|---|
Edward W. Carmack | Tennessee | 1903-1907 |
Robert L. Owen | Oklahoma | 1907-1911 |
William E. Chilton | West Va. | 1911-1913 |
Willard Saulsbury, Jr. | Delaware | 1913-1916 |
Key Pittman | Nevada | 1916-1917 (act.) |
William H. King | Utah | 1917-1927 |
Hugo Black | Alabama | 1927-1937 |
Joshua B. Lee | Oklahoma | 1937-1943 |
Francis T. Maloney | Connecticut | 1943-1945 |
Brien McMahon | Connecticut | 1945-1952 |
Thomas Hennings | Missouri | 1953-1960 |
George Smathers | Florida | 1960-1966 |
Robert C. Byrd | West Va. | 1967-1971 |
Frank Moss | Utah | 1971-1977 |
Daniel Inouye | Hawaii | 1977-1989 |
David Pryor | Arkansas | 1989-1995 |
Barbara A. Mikulski | Maryland | 1995-2005 |
Debbie Stabenow | Michigan | 2005-2007 |
Patty Murray | Washington | 2007-present |