Living former members of the United States Cabinet

This is a list of living former members of the Cabinet of the United States, meaning living individuals who were confirmed by the Senate and served as 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, or Secretary of Homeland Security. This list also includes living individuals who held the former Cabinet positions of Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and Postmaster General.

This list does not include Cabinet-level positions, such as Vice President of the United States, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Trade Representative.

No Cabinet members of any presidential administration prior to the Lyndon Johnson Administration are still living. All former Cabinet members of the George W. Bush and Barack Obama Administrations are still living.

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.

Cabinet Members in the Lyndon Johnson Administration

There are currently three living former members of the Lyndon Johnson Cabinet.

Name Position Joined Administration Left Administration Birthdate Age Notes
Ramsey Clark Attorney General March 10, 1967 January 20, 1969 December 18, 1927 87 years, 133 days
Marvin Watson Postmaster General April 26, 1968 January 20, 1969 June 6, 1924 90 years, 328 days [1]
Alan Boyd Secretary of Transportation January 16, 1967 January 20, 1969 July 20, 1922 92 years, 284 days

Cabinet Members in the Richard Nixon Administration

There are currently five living former members of the Richard Nixon Cabinet.

Name Position Joined Administration Left Administration Birthdate Age Notes
Henry Kissinger Secretary of State September 22, 1973 August 9, 1974 May 27, 1923 91 years, 338 days [2]
George Shultz Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Labor 		June 12, 1972
January 22, 1969 		May 8, 1974
July 1, 1970 		December 13, 1920 94 years, 138 days [3]
Melvin Laird Secretary of Defense January 22, 1969 January 29, 1973 September 1, 1922 92 years, 241 days
Peter Peterson Secretary of Commerce February 29, 1972 February 1, 1973 June 5, 1926 88 years, 329 days
Frederick Dent Secretary of Commerce February 2, 1973 August 9, 1974 August 17, 1922 92 years, 256 days [2]

Cabinet Members in the Gerald Ford Administration

There are currently eight living former members of the Gerald Ford Cabinet.

Name Position Joined Administration Left Administration Birthdate Age Notes
Henry Kissinger Secretary of State August 9, 1974 January 20, 1977 May 27, 1923 91 years, 338 days
Donald Rumsfeld Secretary of Defense November 20, 1975 January 20, 1977 July 9, 1932 82 years, 295 days [4]
John Knebel Secretary of Agriculture November 4, 1976 January 20, 1977 October 4, 1936 78 years, 208 days
Frederick Dent Secretary of Commerce August 9, 1974 March 26, 1975 August 17, 1922 92 years, 256 days
William Usery Secretary of Labor February 10, 1976 January 20, 1977 December 21, 1923 91 years, 130 days
David Mathews Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare August 8, 1975 January 20, 1977 December 6, 1935 79 years, 145 days [5]
Carla Hills Secretary of Housing and Urban Development March 10, 1975 January 20, 1977 January 3, 1934 81 years, 117 days
William Coleman Secretary of Transportation March 7, 1975 January 20, 1977 July 7, 1920 94 years, 297 days

Cabinet Members in the Jimmy Carter Administration

There are currently eleven living former members of the Jimmy Carter Cabinet.

Name Position Joined Administration Left Administration Birthdate Age Notes
Michael Blumenthal Secretary of the Treasury January 23, 1977 August 4, 1979 January 3, 1926 89 years, 117 days
Harold Brown Secretary of Defense January 21, 1977 January 20, 1981 September 19, 1927 87 years, 223 days
Benjamin Civiletti Attorney General August 16, 1979 January 19, 1981 July 17, 1935 79 years, 287 days
Cecil Andrus Secretary of the Interior January 23, 1977 January 20, 1981 August 25, 1931 83 years, 248 days
Robert Bergland Secretary of Agriculture January 23, 1977 January 20, 1981 July 22, 1928 86 years, 282 days
Ray Marshall Secretary of Labor January 27, 1977 January 20, 1981 August 22, 1928 86 years, 251 days
Joseph Califano Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare January 25, 1977 August 3, 1979 May 15, 1931 83 years, 350 days [5]
Moon Landrieu Secretary of Housing and Urban Development September 24, 1979 January 20, 1981 July 23, 1930 84 years, 281 days
Neil Goldschmidt Secretary of Transportation August 15, 1979 January 20, 1981 June 16, 1940 74 years, 318 days
Charles Duncan Secretary of Energy August 24, 1979 January 20, 1981 September 9, 1926 88 years, 233 days
Shirley Hufstedler Secretary of Education November 30, 1979 January 20, 1981 August 24, 1925 89 years, 249 days

Cabinet Members in the Ronald Reagan Administration

There are currently twenty living former members of the Ronald Reagan Cabinet.

Name Position Joined Administration Left Administration Birthdate Age Notes
George Shultz Secretary of State July 16, 1982 January 20, 1989 December 13, 1920 94 years, 138 days
James Baker Secretary of the Treasury February 4, 1985 August 17, 1988 April 28, 1930 85 years, 2 days [6]
Nicholas Brady Secretary of the Treasury September 15, 1988 January 20, 1989 April 11, 1930 85 years, 19 days [7]
Frank Carlucci Secretary of Defense November 23, 1987 January 20, 1989 October 18, 1930 84 years, 194 days
Edwin Meese Attorney General February 25, 1985 July 5, 1988 December 2, 1931 83 years, 149 days
Dick Thornburgh Attorney General August 15, 1988 January 20, 1989 July 16, 1932 82 years, 288 days [7]
James Watt Secretary of the Interior January 23, 1981 November 8, 1983 January 31, 1938 77 years, 89 days
Donald Hodel Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Energy 		February 8, 1985
November 5, 1982 		January 20, 1989
February 7, 1985 		May 23, 1935 79 years, 342 days
John Block Secretary of Agriculture 23 January 1981 14 February 1986 February 15, 1935 80 years, 74 days
Ray Donovan Secretary of Labor February 4, 1981 March 15, 1985 August 31, 1930 84 years, 242 days
Bill Brock Secretary of Labor April 29, 1985 October 31, 1987 November 23, 1930 84 years, 158 days
Ann Korologos Secretary of Labor December 17, 1987 January 20, 1989 November 16, 1941 73 years, 165 days
Richard Schweiker Secretary of Health and Human Services January 22, 1981 February 3, 1983 June 1, 1926 88 years, 333 days
Margaret Heckler Secretary of Health and Human Services March 9, 1983 December 13, 1985 June 21, 1931 83 years, 313 days
Andrew Lewis Secretary of Transportation January 23, 1981 February 1, 1983 November 3, 1931 83 years, 178 days
Elizabeth Dole Secretary of Transportation February 7, 1983 September 30, 1987 July 29, 1936 78 years, 275 days [8]
James Burnley Secretary of Transportation December 2, 1987 January 30, 1989 July 30, 1948 66 years, 274 days
John Herrington Secretary of Energy February 7, 1985 January 20, 1989 May 31, 1939 75 years, 334 days
William Bennett Secretary of Education February 6, 1985 September 20, 1988 July 31, 1943 71 years, 301 days
Lauro Cavazos Secretary of Education September 20, 1988 January 20, 1989 January 4, 1927 88 years, 116 days [7]

Cabinet Members in the George H. W. Bush Administration

There are currently fifteen living former members of the George H. W. Bush Cabinet.

Name Position Joined Administration Left Administration Birthdate Age Notes
James Baker Secretary of State January 20, 1989 August 23, 1992 April 28, 1930 85 years, 2 days
Nicholas Brady Secretary of the Treasury January 20, 1989 January 17, 1993 April 11, 1930 85 years, 19 days
Dick Cheney Secretary of Defense March 20, 1989 January 20, 1993 January 30, 1941 74 years, 90 days
Dick Thornburgh Attorney General January 20, 1989 August 15, 1991 July 16, 1932 82 years, 288 days
William Barr Attorney General November 26, 1991 January 20, 1993 May 23, 1950 64 years, 342 days
Manuel Lujan Secretary of the Interior February 3, 1989 January 20, 1993 May 12, 1928 86 years, 353 days
Clayton Yeutter Secretary of Agriculture February 16, 1989 March 1, 1991 December 10, 1930 84 years, 141 days
Barbara Franklin Secretary of Commerce February 27, 1992 January 20, 1993 March 19, 1940 75 years, 42 days
Elizabeth Dole Secretary of Labor January 25, 1989 November 23, 1990 July 29, 1936 78 years, 275 days
Lynn Martin Secretary of Labor February 22, 1991 January 20, 1993 December 26, 1939 75 years, 125 days
Louis Sullivan Secretary of Health and Human Services March 1, 1989 January 20, 1993 November 3, 1933 81 years, 178 days
Samuel Skinner Secretary of Transportation February 6, 1989 December 15, 1991 June 10, 1938 76 years, 324 days
Andrew Card Secretary of Transportation February 24, 1992 January 20, 1993 May 10, 1947 67 years, 355 days
Lauro Cavazos Secretary of Education January 20, 1989 December 12, 1990 January 4, 1927 88 years, 116 days
Lamar Alexander Secretary of Education March 22, 1991 January 20, 1993 July 3, 1940 74 years, 301 days

Cabinet Members in the Bill Clinton Administration

There are currently twenty-three living former members of the Bill Clinton Cabinet.

Name Position Joined Administration Left Administration Birthdate Age Notes
Madeleine Albright Secretary of State January 23, 1997 January 20, 2001 May 15, 1937 77 years, 350 days
Robert Rubin Secretary of the Treasury January 11, 1995 July 2, 1999 August 29, 1938 76 years, 244 days
Lawrence Summers Secretary of the Treasury July 2, 1999 January 20, 2001 November 30, 1954 60 years, 151 days
William Perry Secretary of Defense February 3, 1994 January 23, 1997 October 11, 1927 87 years, 201 days
William Cohen Secretary of Defense January 24, 1997 January 20, 2001 August 28, 1940 74 years, 245 days
Janet Reno Attorney General March 11, 1993 January 20, 2001 July 21, 1938 76 years, 283 days
Bruce Babbitt Secretary of the Interior January 22, 1993 January 2, 2001 June 27, 1938 76 years, 307 days
Mike Espy Secretary of Agriculture January 22, 1993 December 31, 1994 November 30, 1953 61 years, 151 days
Dan Glickman Secretary of Agriculture March 30, 1995 January 19, 2001 November 24, 1944 70 years, 157 days
Mickey Kantor Secretary of Commerce April 12, 1996 January 21, 1997 August 7, 1939 75 years, 266 days
William Daley Secretary of Commerce January 30, 1997 July 19, 2000 August 8, 1948 66 years, 265 days
Norman Mineta Secretary of Commerce July 20, 2000 January 20, 2001 November 12, 1931 83 years, 169 days [9]
Robert Reich Secretary of Labor January 22, 1993 January 10, 1997 June 24, 1946 68 years, 310 days
Alexis Herman Secretary of Labor May 1, 1997 January 20, 2001 July 16, 1947 67 years, 317 days
Donna Shalala Secretary of Health and Human Services January 22, 1993 January 20, 2001 February 14, 1941 74 years, 75 days
Henry Cisneros Secretary of Housing and Urban Development January 22, 1993 January 19, 1997 June 11, 1947 67 years, 323 days
Andrew Cuomo Secretary of Housing and Urban Development January 29, 1997 January 20, 2001 December 6, 1957 57 years, 145 days
Federico Peña Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy 		January 21, 1993
March 12, 1997 		February 14, 1997
June 30, 1998 		March 15, 1947 68 years, 46 days
Rodney Slater Secretary of Transportation February 14, 1997 January 20, 2001 February 23, 1955 60 years, 66 days
Hazel O'Leary Secretary of Energy January 22, 1993 January 20, 1997 May 17, 1937 77 years, 348 days
Bill Richardson Secretary of Energy August 18, 1998 January 20, 2001 November 15, 1947 67 years, 166 days
Richard Riley Secretary of Education January 21, 1993 January 20, 2001 January 2, 1933 82 years, 118 days
Togo West Secretary of Veterans Affairs May 5, 1998 July 10, 2000 June 21, 1942 72 years, 313 days

Cabinet Members in the George W. Bush Administration

There are currently thirty-four living former members of the George W. Bush Cabinet. All former cabinet members who served in the George W. Bush administration are still living.

Name Position Joined Administration Left Administration Birthdate Age Notes
Colin Powell Secretary of State January 20, 2001 January 26, 2005 April 5, 1937 78 years, 25 days
Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State January 26, 2005 January 20, 2009 November 14, 1954 60 years, 167 days
Paul O'Neill Secretary of the Treasury January 20, 2001 December 31, 2002 December 4, 1935 79 years, 147 days
John Snow Secretary of the Treasury February 3, 2003 June 28, 2006 August 2, 1939 75 years, 271 days
Henry Paulson Secretary of the Treasury July 3, 2006 January 20, 2009 March 28, 1946 69 years, 33 days
Donald Rumsfeld Secretary of Defense January 20, 2001 December 18, 2006 July 9, 1932 82 years, 295 days
Robert Gates Secretary of Defense December 18, 2006 January 20, 2009 September 25, 1943 71 years, 217 days [10]
John Ashcroft Attorney General February 2, 2001 February 3, 2005 May 9, 1942 72 years, 356 days
Alberto Gonzales Attorney General February 3, 2005 September 17, 2007 August 4, 1955 59 years, 269 days
Michael Mukasey Attorney General November 9, 2007 January 20, 2009 July 28, 1941 73 years, 276 days
Gale Norton Secretary of the Interior January 31, 2001 March 31, 2006 March 11, 1954 61 years, 50 days
Dirk Kempthorne Secretary of the Interior June 7, 2006 January 20, 2009 October 29, 1951 63 years, 183 days
Ann Veneman Secretary of Agriculture January 20, 2001 January 20, 2005 June 29, 1949 65 years, 305 days
Mike Johanns Secretary of Agriculture January 21, 2005 September 20, 2007 June 18, 1950 64 years, 316 days
Ed Schafer Secretary of Agriculture January 28, 2008 January 20, 2009 August 8, 1946 68 years, 265 days
Donald Evans Secretary of Commerce January 20, 2001 February 7, 2005 July 27, 1946 68 years, 277 days
Carlos Gutierrez Secretary of Commerce February 7, 2005 January 20, 2009 November 4, 1953 61 years, 177 days
Elaine Chao Secretary of Labor January 29, 2001 January 20, 2009 March 26, 1953 62 years, 35 days
Tommy Thompson Secretary of Health and Human Services February 2, 2001 January 26, 2005 November 19, 1941 73 years, 162 days
Mike Leavitt Secretary of Health and Human Services January 26, 2005 January 20, 2009 February 11, 1951 64 years, 78 days
Mel Martinez Secretary of Housing and Urban Development January 24, 2001 December 13, 2003 October 23, 1946 68 years, 189 days
Alphonso Jackson Secretary of Housing and Urban Development March 31, 2004 April 18, 2008 September 9, 1945 69 years, 233 days
Steve Preston Secretary of Housing and Urban Development June 5, 2008 January 20, 2009 August 4, 1960 54 years, 269 days
Norman Mineta Secretary of Transportation January 25, 2001 July 7, 2006 November 12, 1931 83 years, 169 days
Mary Peters Secretary of Transportation October 17, 2006 January 20, 2009 December 4, 1948 66 years, 147 days
Spencer Abraham Secretary of Energy January 20, 2001 February 1, 2005 June 12, 1952 62 years, 322 days
Samuel Bodman Secretary of Energy January 31, 2005 January 20, 2009 November 26, 1938 76 years, 155 days
Rod Paige Secretary of Education January 20, 2001 January 20, 2005 June 17, 1933 81 years, 317 days
Margaret Spellings Secretary of Education January 20, 2005 January 20, 2009 November 30, 1957 57 years, 151 days
Anthony Principi Secretary of Veterans Affairs January 23, 2001 January 26, 2005 April 16, 1944 71 years, 14 days
Jim Nicholson Secretary of Veterans Affairs January 26, 2005 October 1, 2007 February 4, 1938 77 years, 85 days
James Peake Secretary of Veterans Affairs December 20, 2007 January 20, 2009 June 18, 1944 70 years, 316 days
Tom Ridge Secretary of Homeland Security January 24, 2003 February 1, 2005 August 26, 1945 69 years, 247 days
Michael Chertoff Secretary of Homeland Security February 15, 2005 January 21, 2009 November 28, 1953 61 years, 153 days

Cabinet Members in the Barack Obama Administration

There are currently fifteen living former members of the Barack Obama Cabinet. All former cabinet members who served in the Barack Obama administration are still living.

Name Position Joined Administration Left Administration Birthdate Age Notes
Hillary Clinton Secretary of State January 21, 2009 February 1, 2013 October 26, 1947 67 years, 186 days
Timothy Geithner Secretary of the Treasury January 26, 2009 January 25, 2013 August 18, 1961 53 years, 255 days
Robert Gates Secretary of Defense January 20, 2009 June 30, 2011 September 25, 1943 71 years, 217 days
Leon Panetta Secretary of Defense July 1, 2011 February 27, 2013 June 28, 1938 76 years, 306 days
Chuck Hagel Secretary of Defense February 27, 2013 February 17, 2015 October 4, 1946 68 years, 208 days
Eric Holder Attorney General February 3, 2009 April 27, 2015 January 21, 1951 64 years, 99 days
Ken Salazar Secretary of the Interior January 20, 2009 April 12, 2013 March 2, 1955 60 years, 59 days
Gary Locke Secretary of Commerce March 26, 2009 August 1, 2011 January 21, 1950 65 years, 99 days
John Bryson Secretary of Commerce October 21, 2011 June 21, 2012 July 24, 1943 71 years, 280 days
Hilda Solis Secretary of Labor February 24, 2009 January 22, 2013 October 20, 1957 57 years, 192 days
Kathleen Sebelius Secretary of Health and Human Services April 28, 2009 June 9, 2014 May 15, 1948 66 years, 350 days
Shaun Donovan Secretary of Housing and Urban Development January 26, 2009 July 28, 2014 January 24, 1966 49 years, 96 days
Ray LaHood Secretary of Transportation January 23, 2009 July 2, 2013 December 6, 1945 69 years, 145 days
Steven Chu Secretary of Energy January 21, 2009 April 22, 2013 February 28, 1948 67 years, 61 days
Eric Shinseki Secretary of Veterans Affairs January 21, 2009 May 30, 2014 November 28, 1942 72 years, 153 days
Janet Napolitano Secretary of Homeland Security January 21, 2009 September 6, 2013 November 29, 1957 57 years, 152 days

Notes

  1. ↑ Watson is the last living former Postmaster General to serve as a Cabinet member. Postmasters General serving after 1971 are not considered members of the Cabinet.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Stayed on in the Ford Administration after President Nixon resigned.
  3. ↑ Shultz later served as Secretary of State in the Reagan Administration.
  4. ↑ Rumsfeld later served as Secretary of Defense in the George W. Bush Administration.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mathews and Califano are the last two living former Secretaries of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1979, the position was renamed Secretary of Health and Human Services.
  6. ↑ Baker later served as Secretary of State in the George H. W. Bush Administration.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Stayed on in the George H. W. Bush Administration after President Reagan's retirement.
  8. ↑ Dole later served as Secretary of Labor in the George H. W. Bush Administration.
  9. ↑ Mineta later served as Secretary of Transportation in the George W. Bush Administration.
  10. ↑ Stayed on in the Obama Administration after President George W. Bush's retirement.