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United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare

File:Seal of the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.svg
Seal of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare

The United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare was the head of the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The Secretary was a member of the President's Cabinet. In 1979, there was a division of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare's position into separate secretaries of Health and Human Services and Education.

Secretaries of Health, Education, and Welfare
No. Name Years President(s) served under
1 Oveta Culp Hobby 1953–1955 Dwight D. Eisenhower
2 Marion Bayard Folsom 1955–1958 Dwight D. Eisenhower
3 Arthur Sherwood Flemming 1958–1961 Dwight D. Eisenhower
4 Abraham A. Ribicoff 1961–1962 John F. Kennedy
5 Anthony J. Celebrezze 1962–1965 John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson
6 John William Gardner 1965–1968 Lyndon Johnson
7 Wilbur J. Cohen 1968–1969 Lyndon Johnson
8 Robert H. Finch 1969–1970 Richard Nixon
9 Elliot Lee Richardson 1970–1973 Richard Nixon
10 Caspar Weinberger 1973–1975 Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford
11 Forrest David Mathews 1975–1977 Gerald Ford
12 Joseph A. Califano Jr. 1977–1979 Jimmy Carter
13 Patricia Roberts Harris 1979–1979 Jimmy Carter

Living former secretaries of health, education, and welfare

As of January 2026, there are two living former health, education, and welfare, the older of the two being Joseph A. Califano Jr. (served 1977-1979). The most recent death of a former secretary of health, education, and welfare was that of Caspar W. Weinberger (served 1973-1975) on March 28, 2006. The living former secretaries of health, education, and welfare, in order of service, are:


United States Secretary Of Health, Education, And Welfare Media

  • Flag of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.png

    The flag of the secretary of health, education, and welfare, the predecessor to the current office

  • Photograph of Oveta Culp Hobby, first secretary of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps, and chairman of the board of the Houston Post.

  • Marion B. Folsom (1893-1976), Secretary of HEW.

  • Abraham Ribicoff (1910-1998), Secretary of HEW.

  • Celebrez.jpg

    Anthony J. Celebrezze (1910-1998), Secretary of HEW.

  • John W. Gardner, U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.jpg

    John W. Gardner, U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare

  • Robert Finch, 1967.jpg

    Robert H. Finch, 38th Lieutenant Governor of California, in 1967

  • ElliotLeeRichardson.jpg

    Elliot Richardson, U.S. Secretary of Commerce

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