On January 20, 2001, Colin Powell assumed the post of secretary of state under President George W. Bush, which made him the highest-ranked African-American among cabinet secretaries to enter the presidential line of succession, standing fourth.[6]Condoleezza Rice took over the same position in 2005, during Bush's second term, making her the highest-placed Black woman in line to the presidency. Kamala Harris replaced both Powell and Rice to become the highest-ranking Black person ever to be in the line of succession upon being inaugurated as the first African-American vice president on January 20, 2021, alongside President Joe Biden.[7][6]
The totals for this list include only African-American presidential appointees confirmed (if necessary) by the United States Senate to cabinet or cabinet-level positions and taking their oath of office; they do not include acting officials or nominees awaiting confirmation.
Permanent Cabinet membersedit
The following list includes African-Americans who have held permanent positions in the Cabinet, all of whom are in the line of succession to the presidency. The table below is organized based on the beginning of their terms in office. Officeholders whose terms begin the same day are listed according to the presidential order of succession.
* denotes the first African-American holder of that particular office
The Secretary of War became defunct when the Department of War became the Department of Defense in 1947. No African American had ever served while it was a Cabinet post.[36]
The Secretary of Commerce and Labor became defunct when the Department of Commerce and Labor was subdivided into two separate entities in 1913. No African American had ever served while it was a Cabinet post.[38]
Cabinet-level positionsedit
The president may designate or remove additional officials as cabinet members. These positions have not always been in the Cabinet, so some African American officeholders may not be listed.
The following list includes African-Americans who have held cabinet-rank positions, which can vary under each president. They are not in the line of succession and are not necessarily officers of the United States. The table below is organized based on the beginning of their terms in office while it was raised to cabinet-level status. Officeholders whose terms begin the same day are listed alphabetically by last name.
* denotes the first African-American holder of that particular office
^ abThe position was established as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare on April 11, 1953; renamed Secretary of Health and Human Services on May 4, 1980.[12]
^"Time Line of African American History, 1881–1900". Library of Congress. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
^"Transcript of Civil Rights Act (1964)". Retrieved February 8, 2009.
^ abWeil, Martin (July 20, 1997). "Robert C. Weaver Dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
^ abBoyd, Gerald M. (March 24, 1985). "Patricia R. Harris, Carter Aide, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
^ abcFeerick, John. "Essays on Amendment XXV: Presidential Succession". The Heritage Guide to the Constitution. The Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
^ abSchaff, Erin (November 7, 2020). "Kamala Harris Makes History as First Woman and Woman of Color as Vice President". The New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
^Johnson, Kevin (April 14, 2013). "A president for everyone, except Black people". The Philadelphia Tribune. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
^Hevesi, Dennis (March 31, 2017). "William T. Coleman Jr., Who Broke Racial Barriers in Court and Cabinet, Dies at 96". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
^"HHS Historical Highlights". United States Department of Health and Human Services. June 19, 2016. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
^Shenon, Philip (November 3, 2000). "Samuel R. Pierce Jr., Ex-Housing Secretary, Dies at 78". The WNew York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
^"Sullivan Confirmed as HHS Chief by 98-1 Vote". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. March 1, 1989. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
^Baer, Susan (October 4, 1994). "Embattled Espy resigns as chief of Agriculture". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
^Balz, Dan; Sharon, Walsh (April 4, 1996). "Ron Brown, a pioneer at home in black and white America". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
^Harrington, Linda M. (May 1, 1994). "No Pie in the Sky". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
^Barringer, Felicity (December 18, 1992). "The Transition: Clinton Selects Ex-Mayor for H.U.D. and an Ex-Marine for Veterans Affairs; Defender of the Rights of Veterans Masters Thickets of Regulations". The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
^Stout, David (February 7, 1997). "Senate Easily Confirms Slater As Transportation Secretary". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^Rosenbaum, David E. (December 21, 1996). "Clinton Fills Cabinet After Scramble to Diversify". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
^Roberts, Sam (March 13, 2018). "Togo West Jr., 75, Dies; Army Secretary in Time of Transition". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^Anderson, Nick (January 21, 2001). "Senate Gives Quick Approval to 7 Bush Cabinet Appointees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
^Schemo, Diana Jean (November 12, 2004). "Education Secretary Plans to Resign". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
^Neuman, Joanna (April 1, 2008). "Housing secretary resigns". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
^Schweid, Barry (January 26, 2005). "Rice Is Confirmed Despite Opposition". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
^Lewis, Neil A. (February 2, 2009). "Holder Is Confirmed as Attorney General". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
^Boles, Corey (June 28, 2013). "Foxx Cleared for Transportation Post". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
^Saenz, Arlette (December 17, 2013). "Senate Confirms Jeh Johnson as DHS Secretary". ABC News. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
^DeBonis, Mike (April 23, 2015). "Loretta Lynch confirmed by Senate as attorney general". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
^Resmovits, Joy (March 20, 2016). "New Education Secretary John B. King Jr. knows the value of a second chance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
^Woellert, Lorraine (March 2, 2017). "Ben Carson Is Confirmed as HUD Secretary". Politico. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
^Edmondson, Catie (January 22, 2021). "Lloyd Austin is confirmed, becoming the first Black defense secretary in U.S. history". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
^Stracqualursi, Veronica (March 10, 2021). "Senate confirms Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge as HUD secretary". CNN. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
^"The United States Postal Service — An American History 1775–2002" (PDF). United States Postal Service. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-19. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
^Lelyveld, Joseph (February 6, 1977). "Our new voice at the U.N." The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
^Teltsch, Kathleen (September 1, 1979). "M'HENRY APPOINTED TO YYOUNG'S U.N. JOB". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
^Hebert, H. Josef (January 23, 2009). "Jackson confirmed for EPA". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Associated Press. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
^"U.S. Senate confirms Rice as U.N. ambassador". Reuters. January 23, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
^Palmer, Doug (March 18, 2009). "Senate approves Kirk as U.S. trade representative". Reuters. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
^Lee, Matthew (February 24, 2021). "Senate confirms Linda Thomas-Greenfield as UN ambassador". Associated Press. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
^Stark, Liz (March 10, 2021). "Senate confirms Michael Regan as head of Environmental Protection Agency". CNN. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
^Tankersley, Jim (March 2, 2021). "Senate confirms Cecilia Rouse as the first Black chair of White House economic council". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
^Sullivan, Kate; Zaslav, Ali (March 15, 2022). "Shalanda Young becomes first Black woman to lead White House budget office following Senate confirmation". CNN. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
External linksedit
The Cabinet - Provided by the White House. Retrieved 24 January 2016.