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United States Secretary of State

The United States secretary of state (SecState)[5] is the head of the United States Department of State. This department deals with foreign affairs. The secretary is a member of the presidential cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in presidential line of succession and order of precedence. The U.S. Senate must agree with and confirm with the choice for the person to become the secretary of state.

United States Secretary of State
File:Seal of the United States Secretary of State.svg
Seal of the secretary of state
130px
Flag of the secretary of state
United States Department of State
StyleMr. Secretary (informal)
The Honorable[1] (formal)
His Excellency[2] (diplomatic)
AbbreviationSecState
Member ofCabinet of the United States
United States National Security Council
Reports toPresident of the United States
SeatHarry S Truman Building
Washington, D.C.
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNo fixed term
Constituting instrument22 U.S.C. § 2651
PrecursorSecretary of Foreign Affairs
FormationJuly 27, 1789; 236 years ago (1789-07-27)
First holderThomas Jefferson
SuccessionFourth[3]
DeputyUnited States Deputy Secretary of State
SalaryExecutive Schedule, Level I[4]
Websitestate.gov/secretary

The position of secretary of state was created on April 6, 1789. Thomas Jefferson was the first secretary of state. The secretary is also 4th in the presidential line of succession.

Duties

The first duties of the secretary of state included:

The following are the responsibilities of the Secretary of State. These were added to the duties over time.

List of Secretaries of State

     Denotes an interim secretary of state
N° Secretary Party Vote[a] Term of office State President(s)
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term
– 155x155px Jay, JohnJohn Jay
(1745–1829) 		Federalist – September 15, 1789 March 22, 1790 188 days New York Washington, GeorgeGeorge Washington
(1789–1797)
1 172x172px Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
(1743–1826)
[7]		 Democratic-
Republican 		– March 22, 1790 December 31, 1793 3 years, 284 days Virginia
2 120px Randolph, EdmundEdmund Randolph
(1753–1813)
[8]		 Federalist – January 2, 1794 August 20, 1795 1 year, 232 days Virginia
3 146x146px Pickering, TimothyTimothy Pickering
(1745–1829)
[9]		 Federalist – August 20, 1795 December 10, 1795[b] 4 years, 265 days Pennsylvania
December 10, 1795 May 12, 1800
Adams, JohnJohn Adams
(1797–1801)
– 120px Lee, CharlesCharles Lee
(1758–1815)
[c][10]		 Federalist – May 13, 1800 June 5, 1800 23 days Virginia
4 120px Marshall, JohnJohn Marshall
(1755–1835)
[11]		 Federalist – June 13, 1800 February 4, 1801 264 days Virginia
February 4, 1801 March 4, 1801[d]
– LeviLincoln.gif Lincoln Sr., LeviLevi Lincoln Sr.
(1749–1820)
[c][12]		 Democratic-
Republican 		– March 5, 1801 May 1, 1801 57 days Massachusetts Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
(1801–1809)
5 James Madison, U.S. Secretary of State.jpg Madison, JamesJames Madison
(1751–1836)
[13]		 Democratic-
Republican 		– May 2, 1801 March 3, 1809 7 years, 305 days Virginia
6 120px Smith, RobertRobert Smith
(1757–1842)
[14]		 Democratic-
Republican 		– March 6, 1809 April 1, 1811 2 years, 26 days Maryland Madison, JamesJames Madison
(1809–1817)
7 144x144px Monroe, JamesJames Monroe
(1758–1831)
[15]		 Democratic-
Republican 		30–0 April 2, 1811 September 30, 1814 5 years, 335 days Virginia
October 1, 1814 February 28, 1815[b]
February 28, 1815 March 3, 1817
– Graham, JohnJohn Graham
(1774–1820)
[e][16]		 Democratic-
Republican 		– March 4, 1817 March 9, 1817 5 days Kentucky Monroe, JamesJames Monroe
(1817–1825)
– 120px Rush, RichardRichard Rush
(1780–1859)
[c][17]		 Federalist – March 10, 1817 September 22, 1817 196 days Pennsylvania
8 John Quincy Adams, U.S. Secretary of State (2267332138).jpg Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams
(1767–1848)
[18]		 Democratic-
Republican 		29–1 September 22, 1817 March 3, 1825 7 years, 162 days Massachusetts
– Brent, DanielDaniel Brent
(1770–1841)
[e][19]		 Democratic-
Republican 		– March 4, 1825 March 7, 1825 3 days Virginia Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams
(1825–1829)
9 145x145px Clay, HenryHenry Clay
(1777–1852)
[20]		 Democratic-
Republican 		27–14 March 7, 1825 March 3, 1829 3 years, 361 days Kentucky
National
Republican
– James Alexander Hamilton, by Aimée Thibault (1834–1837).png Hamilton, James AlexanderJames Alexander Hamilton
(1788–1878)
[21]		 Democratic – March 4, 1829 March 27, 1829 23 days New York Jackson, AndrewAndrew Jackson
(1829–1837)
10 162x162px Van Buren, MartinMartin Van Buren
(1782–1862)
[22]		 Democratic 25–7 March 28, 1829 May 23, 1831 2 years, 56 days New York
11 Portrait of Edward Livingston, by Thomas Sully, c. 1810-1836, oil on canvas - Portland Art Museum - Portland, Oregon - DSC08898.jpg Livingston, EdwardEdward Livingston
(1764–1836)
[23]		 Democratic – May 24, 1831 May 29, 1833 2 years, 5 days Louisiana
12 File:LMcLane.jpg McLane, LouisLouis McLane
(1786–1857)
[24]		 Democratic [f] May 29, 1833 June 30, 1834 1 year, 32 days Delaware
13 120px Forsyth, JohnJohn Forsyth
(1780–1841)
[25]		 Democratic – July 1, 1834 March 3, 1841 6 years, 245 days Georgia
Van Buren, MartinMartin Van Buren
(1837–1841)
– Martin, Jacob L.Jacob L. Martin
(?–1848)
[e][26]		 – – March 4, 1841 March 5, 1841 1 day District of
Columbia 		Harrison, William HenryWilliam Henry Harrison
(1841)
14 156x156px Webster, DanielDaniel Webster
(1782–1852)
[27]		 Whig – March 6, 1841 May 8, 1843 2 years, 63 days Massachusetts
Tyler, JohnJohn Tyler
(1841–1845)
– File:Hugh S. Legaré.jpg Legaré, Hugh S.Hugh S. Legaré
(1797–1843)
[c][28]		 Democratic – May 9, 1843 June 20, 1843 42 days South Carolina
– Derrick, William S.William S. Derrick
(1802–1852)
[e][29]		 – – June 21, 1843 June 23, 1843 2 days Pennsylvania
15 Abel P. Upshur SecNavy.jpg Upshur, Abel P.Abel P. Upshur
(1791–1844)
[30]		 Whig – June 24, 1843 July 23, 1843[g] 220 days Virginia
July 24, 1843 February 28, 1844
– John Nelson, bw photo portrait, Brady-Handy collection, circa 1855-1865.jpg Nelson, JohnJohn Nelson
(1791–1860)
[c][31]		 Whig – February 29, 1844 March 31, 1844 31 days Maryland
16 148x148px Calhoun, John C.John C. Calhoun
(1782–1850)
[32]		 Democratic – April 1, 1844 March 10, 1845[h] 343 days South Carolina
17 150x150px Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
(1791–1868)
[33]		 Democratic – March 10, 1845 March 7, 1849[h] 3 years, 362 days Pennsylvania Polk, James K.James K. Polk
(1845–1849)
18 144x144px Clayton, John M.John M. Clayton
(1796–1856)
[34]		 Whig – March 8, 1849 July 22, 1850 1 year, 136 days Delaware Taylor, ZacharyZachary Taylor
(1849–1850)
Fillmore, MillardMillard Fillmore
(1850–1853)
19 156x156px Webster, DanielDaniel Webster
(1782–1852)
[27]		 Whig – July 23, 1850 October 24, 1852 2 years, 93 days Massachusetts
– 120px Conrad, Charles MagillCharles Magill Conrad
(1804–1878)
[b][35]		 Whig – October 25, 1852 November 5, 1852 11 days Louisiana
20 147x147px Everett, EdwardEdward Everett
(1794–1865)
[36]		 Whig – November 6, 1852 March 3, 1853 117 days Massachusetts
– File:William Hunter, Jr. (c.1866 - 1886).jpg Hunter, WilliamWilliam Hunter
(1805–1886)
[e][37]		 – – March 4, 1853 March 7, 1853 3 days Rhode Island Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
(1853–1857)
21 120px Marcy, William L.William L. Marcy
(1786–1857)
[38]		 Democratic – March 7, 1853 March 6, 1857[h] 3 years, 364 days New York
22 120px Cass, LewisLewis Cass
(1782–1866)
[39]		 Democratic – March 6, 1857 December 14, 1860 3 years, 283 days Michigan Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
(1857–1861)
– File:William Hunter, Jr. (c.1866 - 1886).jpg Hunter, WilliamWilliam Hunter
(1805–1886)
[e][37]		 – – December 15, 1860 December 16, 1860 1 day Rhode Island
23 120px Black, Jeremiah S.Jeremiah S. Black
(1810–1883)
[40]		 Democratic – December 17, 1860 March 5, 1861[h] 78 days New York
24 File:William H. Seward portrait - restoration.jpg Seward, William H.William H. Seward
(1801–1872)
[41]		 Republican – March 5, 1861 March 4, 1869 7 years, 364 days New York Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
(1861–1865)
Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
(1865–1869)
25 157x157px Washburne, Elihu B.Elihu B. Washburne
(1816–1887)
[42]		 Republican – March 5, 1869 March 16, 1869 11 days Illinois Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
(1869–1877)
26 120px Fish, HamiltonHamilton Fish
(1808–1893)
[43]		 Republican – March 17, 1869 March 12, 1877[h] 7 years, 360 days New York
27 120px Evarts, William M.William M. Evarts
(1818–1901)
[44]		 Republican 44–2 March 12, 1877 March 7, 1881[h] 3 years, 360 days New York Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes
(1877–1881)
28 143x143px Blaine, James G.James G. Blaine
(1830–1893)
[45]		 Republican – March 7, 1881 December 19, 1881 287 days Maine Garfield, James A.James A. Garfield
(1881)
Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
(1881–1885)
29 120px Frelinghuysen, Frederick T.Frederick T. Frelinghuysen
(1817–1885)
[46]		 Republican – December 19, 1881 March 6, 1885[h] 3 years, 77 days New Jersey
30 120px Bayard, Thomas F.Thomas F. Bayard
(1828–1898)
[47]		 Democratic – March 7, 1885 March 6, 1889[h] 3 years, 364 days Delaware Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
(1885–1889)
31 143x143px Blaine, James G.James G. Blaine
(1830–1893)
[45]		 Republican – March 7, 1889 June 4, 1892 3 years, 89 days Maine Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
(1889–1893)
– 120px Wharton, William F.William F. Wharton
(1847–1919)
[i][48]		 Republican – June 4, 1892 June 29, 1892 25 days Massachusetts
32 File:John W. Foster, U.S. Secretary of State.jpg Foster, John W.John W. Foster
(1836–1917)
[49]		 Republican – June 29, 1892 February 23, 1893 239 days Indiana
– 120px Wharton, William F.William F. Wharton
(1847–1919)
[i][48]		 Republican – February 24, 1893 March 6, 1893 10 days Massachusetts
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
(1893–1897)
33 143x143px Gresham, Walter Q.Walter Q. Gresham
(1832–1895)
[50]		 Democratic – March 7, 1893 May 28, 1895 2 years, 82 days Illinois
– 120px Uhl, Edwin F.Edwin F. Uhl
(1841–1901)
[i][51]		 Democratic – May 28, 1895 June 9, 1895 12 days Michigan
34 150x150px Olney, RichardRichard Olney
(1835–1917)
[52]		 Democratic – June 10, 1895 March 5, 1897[h] 1 year, 268 days Massachusetts
35 John-Sherman-2-cropped.jpg Sherman, JohnJohn Sherman
(1823–1900)
[53]		 Republican – March 6, 1897 April 27, 1898 1 year, 52 days Ohio McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley
(1897–1901)
36 145x145px Day, William R.William R. Day
(1849–1923)
[54]		 Republican – April 28, 1898 September 16, 1898 141 days Ohio
– File:AAAoftheState.jpg Adee, Alvey A.Alvey A. Adee
(1842–1924)
[j][55]		 Independent – September 17, 1898 September 29, 1898 12 days New York
37 182x182px Hay, JohnJohn Hay
(1838–1905)
[56]		 Republican – September 30, 1898 July 1, 1905 6 years, 274 days District of
Columbia
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
(1901–1909)
– 120px Loomis, Francis B.Francis B. Loomis
(1861–1948)
[i][57]		 Republican – July 1, 1905 July 18, 1905 17 days Ohio
38 File:Elihu Root, bw photo portrait, 1902.jpg Root, ElihuElihu Root
(1845–1937)
[58]		 Republican – July 19, 1905 January 27, 1909 3 years, 192 days New York
39 157x157px Bacon, RobertRobert Bacon
(1860–1919)
[59]		 Republican – January 27, 1909 March 5, 1909[h] 37 days New York
40 181x181px Knox, Philander C.Philander C. Knox
(1853–1921)
[60]		 Republican – March 6, 1909 March 5, 1913[h] 3 years, 364 days Pennsylvania Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft
(1909–1913)
41 151x151px Bryan, William JenningsWilliam Jennings Bryan
(1860–1925)
[61]		 Democratic – March 5, 1913 June 9, 1915 2 years, 96 days Nebraska Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson
(1913–1921)
42 120px Lansing, RobertRobert Lansing
(1864–1928)
[62]		 Democratic – June 9, 1915 June 24, 1915[k] 4 years, 249 days New York
June 24, 1915 February 13, 1920
– File:Frank Lyon Polk, LC-DIG-npcc-01132, trimmed.jpg Polk, FrankFrank Polk
(1871–1943)
[l][63]		 Democratic – February 14, 1920 March 14, 1920 29 days New York
43 120px Colby, BainbridgeBainbridge Colby
(1869–1950)
[64]		 Democratic – March 23, 1920 March 4, 1921 346 days New York
44 153x153px Hughes, Charles EvansCharles Evans Hughes
(1862–1948)
[65]		 Republican – March 5, 1921 March 4, 1925 3 years, 364 days New York Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding
(1921–1923)
Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge
(1923–1929)
45 FrankKellogg.jpg Kellogg, Frank B.Frank B. Kellogg
(1856–1937)
[66]		 Republican – March 5, 1925 March 28, 1929 4 years, 23 days Minnesota
Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover
(1929–1933)
46 173x173px Stimson, Henry L.Henry L. Stimson
(1867–1950)
[67]		 Republican – March 28, 1929 March 4, 1933 3 years, 341 days New York
47 120px Hull, CordellCordell Hull
(1871–1955)
[68]		 Democratic – March 4, 1933 November 30, 1944 11 years, 271 days Tennessee Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1933–1945)
48 File:Edward R. Stettinius, Chairman of U.S. Steel, testifying before Monopoly Committee LCCN2016875665 (Cropped).jpg Stettinius Jr., EdwardEdward Stettinius Jr.
(1900–1949)
[69]		 Democratic 68–1 December 1, 1944 June 27, 1945 208 days Virginia
Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)
– 159x159px Grew, JosephJoseph Grew
(1880–1965)
[l][70]		 Independent – June 28, 1945 July 3, 1945 5 days New Hampshire
49 120px Byrnes, James F.James F. Byrnes
(1882–1972)
[71]		 Democratic – July 3, 1945 January 21, 1947 1 year, 202 days South Carolina
50 153x153px Marshall, George C.George C. Marshall
(1880–1959)
[72]		 Independent – January 21, 1947 January 20, 1949 1 year, 365 days Pennsylvania
51 Dean G. Acheson, U.S. Secretary of State (cropped).jpg Acheson, DeanDean Acheson
(1893–1971)
[73]		 Democratic 83–6 January 21, 1949 January 20, 1953 3 years, 365 days Maryland
– File:H. Freeman Matthews 1956.jpg Matthews, H. FreemanH. Freeman Matthews
(1899–1986)
[l][74]		 Independent – January 20, 1953 January 21, 1953 1 day Maryland Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953–1961)
52 152x152px Dulles, John FosterJohn Foster Dulles
(1888–1959)
[75]		 Republican – January 21, 1953 April 22, 1959 6 years, 91 days New York
53 158x158px Herter, ChristianChristian Herter
(1895–1966)
[76]		 Republican 93–0 April 22, 1959 January 20, 1961 1 year, 273 days Massachusetts
– 120px Merchant, Livingston T.Livingston T. Merchant
(1903–1976)
[m][77]		 Independent – January 20, 1961 January 21, 1961 1 day District of
Columbia 		Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy
(1961–1963)
54 120px Rusk, DeanDean Rusk
(1909–1994)
[78]		 Democratic – January 21, 1961 January 20, 1969 7 years, 365 days New York
Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)
– 120px Bohlen, Charles E.Charles E. Bohlen
(1904–1974)
[n][79]		 Independent – January 20, 1969 January 22, 1969 2 days District of
Columbia 		Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon
(1969–1974)
55 120px Rogers, William P.William P. Rogers
(1913–2001)
[80]		 Republican – January 22, 1969 September 3, 1973 4 years, 224 days Maryland
– 120px Rush, KennethKenneth Rush
(1910–1994)
[o][81]		 Republican – September 3, 1973 September 22, 1973 19 days Florida
56 120px Kissinger, HenryHenry Kissinger
(1923–2023)
[82]		 Republican 78–7 September 22, 1973 January 20, 1977 3 years, 120 days District of
Columbia
Ford, GeraldGerald Ford
(1974–1977)
– 120px Habib, PhilipPhilip Habib
(1920–1992)
[m][83]		 Independent – January 20, 1977 January 23, 1977 3 days California Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
57 173x173px Vance, CyrusCyrus Vance
(1917–2002)
[84]		 Democratic Voice January 23, 1977 April 28, 1980 3 years, 96 days New York
– 120px Christopher, WarrenWarren Christopher
(1925–2011)
[o][85]		 Democratic – April 28, 1980 May 2, 1980 4 days California
– 120px Newsom, David D.David D. Newsom
(1918–2008)
[m][86]		 Independent – May 2, 1980 May 3, 1980 1 day California
– Cooper, Richard N.Richard N. Cooper
(1934–2020)
[p][87]		 Independent – May 3, 1980 May 3, 1980 0 days Connecticut
– 120px Newsom, David D.David D. Newsom
(1918–2008)
[m][86]		 Independent – May 3, 1980 May 4, 1980 1 day California
– 120px Christopher, WarrenWarren Christopher
(1925–2011)
[o][85]		 Democratic – May 4, 1980 May 8, 1980 4 days California
58 120px Muskie, EdmundEdmund Muskie
(1914–1996)
[88]		 Democratic 94–2 May 8, 1980 January 18, 1981 255 days Maine
– 120px Newsom, David D.David D. Newsom
(1918–2008)
[m][86]		 Independent – January 18, 1981 January 22, 1981 4 days California
59 120px Haig, AlexanderAlexander Haig
(1924–2010)
[89]		 Republican 93–6 January 22, 1981 July 5, 1982 1 year, 164 days Connecticut Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
(1981–1989)
– 120px Stoessel Jr., Walter J.Walter J. Stoessel Jr.
(1920–1986)
[o][90]		 Independent – July 5, 1982 July 16, 1982 11 days California
60 File:George Pratt Shultz.jpg Shultz, GeorgeGeorge Shultz
(1920–2021)
[91]		 Republican 97–0 July 16, 1982 January 20, 1989 6 years, 188 days California
– 120px Armacost, MichaelMichael Armacost
(b. 1937)
[m][92]		 Independent – January 20, 1989 January 25, 1989 5 days Maryland Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
61 120px Baker, JamesJames Baker
(b. 1930)
[93]		 Republican 99–0 January 25, 1989 August 23, 1992 3 years, 211 days Texas
62 120px Eagleburger, LawrenceLawrence Eagleburger
(1930–2011)
[94]		 Republican – August 23, 1992 December 8, 1992[o] 150 days Florida
Recess December 8, 1992 January 20, 1993
– Kanter, ArnoldArnold Kanter
(1945–2010)
[q][95]		 Independent – January 20, 1993 January 20, 1993 0 days District of
Columbia
– 125x125px Wisner, Frank G.Frank G. Wisner
(b. 1938)
[r][96]		 Independent – January 20, 1993 January 20, 1993 0 days District of
Columbia 		Clinton, BillBill Clinton
(1993–2001)
63 120px Christopher, WarrenWarren Christopher
(1925–2011)
[85]		 Democratic Voice January 20, 1993 January 17, 1997 3 years, 363 days California
64 120px Albright, MadeleineMadeleine Albright
(1937–2022)
[97]		 Democratic 99–0 January 23, 1997 January 20, 2001 3 years, 363 days District of
Columbia
65 120px Powell, ColinColin Powell
(1937–2021)
[98]		 Republican Voice January 20, 2001 January 26, 2005 4 years, 6 days Virginia Bush, George W.George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
66 120px Rice, CondoleezzaCondoleezza Rice
(b. 1954)
[99]		 Republican 85–13 January 26, 2005 January 20, 2009 3 years, 360 days California
– 120px Burns, BillBill Burns
(b. 1956)
[m]		 Independent – January 20, 2009 January 21, 2009 1 day District of
Columbia 		Obama, BarackBarack Obama
(2009–2017)
67 120px Clinton, HillaryHillary Clinton
(b. 1947)
[100]		 Democratic 94–2 January 21, 2009 February 1, 2013 4 years, 11 days New York
68 120px Kerry, JohnJohn Kerry
(b. 1943)
[101]		 Democratic 94–3 February 1, 2013 January 20, 2017 3 years, 354 days Massachusetts
– 120px Shannon, TomTom Shannon
(b. 1958)
[m][102]		 Republican – January 20, 2017 February 1, 2017 12 days Minnesota Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2017–2021)
69 120px Tillerson, RexRex Tillerson
(b. 1952)
[103]		 Republican 55–43 February 1, 2017 March 31, 2018 1 year, 58 days Texas
– 150x150px Sullivan, JohnJohn Sullivan
(b. 1959)
[o]		 Republican – April 1, 2018 April 26, 2018 25 days Massachusetts
70 Mike Pompeo official photo.jpg Pompeo, MikeMike Pompeo
(b. 1963)
[104]		 Republican 57–42 April 26, 2018 January 20, 2021 2 years, 269 days Kansas
– 120px Smith, Daniel BennettDaniel Bennett Smith
(b. 1956)
[s][105]		 Independent – January 20, 2021 January 26, 2021 6 days Virginia Biden, JoeJoe Biden
(2021–2025)
71 120px Blinken, AntonyAntony Blinken
(b. 1962)
[106]		 Democratic 78–22 January 26, 2021 January 20, 2025 3 years, 360 days New York
– 120px Kenna, LisaLisa Kenna
(b. 1965)
[t]		 Independent – January 20, 2025 January 21, 2025 1 day Vermont Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2025–present)
72 120px Rubio, MarcoMarco Rubio
(b. 1971) 		Republican 99–0 January 21, 2025 present 357 days Florida
  1. ↑ Where no vote is listed, confirmation was by voice vote or otherwise unrecorded.[6]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 As Secretary of War.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 As Attorney General.
  4. ↑ As Chief Justice of the United States.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 As Chief Clerk of the State Department.
  6. ↑ This appears to have been a recess appointment that was never submitted to the Senate.[6]
  7. ↑ As Secretary of the Navy.
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 In addition to the president listed, this secretary of state served for a brief period of time (eight days or less) under that president's successor until a replacement could be named and confirmed.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 As Assistant Secretary of State.
  10. ↑ As Second Assistant Secretary of State.
  11. ↑ As Counselor for the Department of State.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 As Under Secretary of State.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 As Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
  14. ↑ As Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 As Deputy Secretary of State.
  16. ↑ As Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.
  17. ↑ As Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
  18. ↑ As Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs.
  19. ↑ As Director of the Foreign Service Institute.
  20. ↑ As Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research

Living former secretaries of state

As of January 2026, there are seven living former secretaries of state, the oldest being James Baker (served 1989–1992). The most recent death of a former secretary of state was that of Henry Kissinger (served 1973–1977) on November 29, 2023. The living former secretaries of state, in order of service, are:

Living former secretaries of state

  • James A. Baker
    (1985-1988)
    Born (1930-04-28)April 28, 1930
    (age 95 years, 260 days)

  • Condoleezza Rice July 2018.jpg

    Condoleezza Rice
    (2005-2009)
    Born (1954-11-14)November 14, 1954
    (age 71 years, 60 days)

  • Hillary Clinton 53663493900 o (1).jpg

    Hillary Clinton
    (2009-2013)
    Born (1947-10-26)October 26, 1947
    (age 78 years, 79 days)

  • Official portrait of Secretary of State John Kerry (cropped).jpg

    John Kerry
    (2013-2017)
    Born (1943-12-11)December 11, 1943
    (age 82 years, 33 days)

  • Rex Tillerson February 2017.jpg

    Rex Tillerson
    (2017-2018)
    Born (1952-03-23)March 23, 1952
    (age 73 years, 296 days)

  • Mike Pompeo official photo (cropped).jpg

    Mike Pompeo
    (2018-2021)
    Born (1963-12-30)December 30, 1963
    (age 62 years, 14 days)

  • Antony Blinken
    (2021-2025)
    Born (1962-04-16)April 16, 1962
    (age 63 years, 272 days)

References

  1. ↑ "Protocol Reference". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  2. ↑ "United Nations Heads of State, Protocol and Liaison Service" (PDF). United Nations. January 29, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 14, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  3. ↑ "3 U.S. Code § 19 – Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act". Cornell Law School. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ 5 U.S.C. § 5312.
  5. ↑ "Abbreviations and Terms" (PDF). 2001-2009.state.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Cabinet Nominations, since 1789" (PDF). legacy-assets.eenews.net/. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  7. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  8. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Edmund Jennings Randolph (1753–1813)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  9. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Timothy Pickering (1745–1829)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  10. ↑ "Charles Lee (1758–1815)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on October 31, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  11. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Marshall (1755–1835)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  12. ↑ "Levi Lincoln (1749–1820)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  13. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Madison (1751–1836)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  14. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Robert Smith (1757–1842)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  15. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Monroe (1758–1831)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  16. ↑ "John Graham (1774–1820)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  17. ↑ "Richard Rush (1780–1859)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  18. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Quincy Adams (1767–1848)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  19. ↑ "Daniel Carroll Brent (1770–1841)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  20. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Henry Clay (1777–1852)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  21. ↑ "James Alexander Hamilton (1788–1878)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  22. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Martin Van Buren (1782–1862)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  23. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Edward Livingston (1764–1836)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  24. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Louis McLane (1786–1857)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  25. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Forsyth (1780–1841)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  26. ↑ "Jacob L. Martin (?–1848)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Daniel Webster (1782–1852)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  28. ↑ "Hugh Swinton Legare (1797–1843)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  29. ↑ "William S. Derrick (?–1852)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  30. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Abel Parker Upshur (1791–1844)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  31. ↑ "John Nelson (1794–1860)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  32. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Caldwell Calhoun (1782–1850)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  33. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Buchanan (1791–1868)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  34. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Middleton Clayton (1796–1856)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  35. ↑ "Charles Magill Conrad (1804–1878)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  36. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Edward Everett (1794–1865)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "William Hunter (1805–1886)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  38. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Learned Marcy (1786–1857)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  39. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Lewis Cass (1782–1866)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  40. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Jeremiah Sullivan Black (1810–1883)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  41. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Henry Seward (1801–1872)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  42. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Elihu Benjamin Washburne (1816–1887)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  43. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Hamilton Fish (1808–1893)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  44. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Maxwell Evarts (1818–1901)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Gillespie Blaine (1830–1893)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  46. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen (1817–1885)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  47. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Thomas Francis Bayard (1828–1898)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 "William Fisher Wharton (1847–1919)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  49. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Watson Foster (1836–1917)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  50. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Walter Quintin Gresham (1832–1895)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  51. ↑ "Edwin Fuller Uhl (1841–1901)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  52. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Richard Olney (1835–1917)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  53. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Sherman (1823–1900)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  54. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Rufus Day (1849–1923)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  55. ↑ "Alvey Augustus Adee (1842–1924)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  56. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Milton Hay (1838–1905)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  57. ↑ "Francis Butler Loomis (1861–1948)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  58. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Elihu Root (1845–1937)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  59. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Robert Bacon (1860–1919)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  60. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Philander Chase Knox (1853–1921)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  61. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  62. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Robert Lansing (1864–1928)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  63. ↑ "Frank Lyon Polk (1871–1943)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  64. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Bainbridge Colby (1869–1950)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  65. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Charles Evans Hughes (1862–1948)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  66. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Frank Billings Kellogg (1856–1937)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  67. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Henry Lewis Stimson (1867–1950)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  68. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Cordell Hull (1871–1955)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  69. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Edward Reilly Stettinius Jr. (1900–1949)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  70. ↑ "Joseph Clark Grew (1880–1965)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  71. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Francis Byrnes (1882–1972)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  72. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: George Catlett Marshall (1880–1959)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  73. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Dean Gooderham Acheson (1893–1971)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  74. ↑ "Harrison Freeman Matthews (1899–1986)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  75. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Foster Dulles (1888–1959)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  76. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Christian Archibald Herter (1895–1966)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  77. ↑ "Livingston Tallmadge Merchant (1903–1976)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  78. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: David Dean Rusk (1909–1994)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  79. ↑ "Charles Eustis Bohlen (1904–1974)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  80. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Pierce Rogers (1913–2001)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  81. ↑ "Kenneth Rush (1910–1994)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  82. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Henry A. (Heinz Alfred) Kissinger (1923–2023)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  83. ↑ "Philip Charles Habib (1920–1992)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  84. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Cyrus Roberts Vance (1917–2002)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  85. ↑ 85.0 85.1 85.2 "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Warren Minor Christopher (1925–2011)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  86. ↑ 86.0 86.1 86.2 "David Dunlap Newsom (1918–2008)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  87. ↑ "Richard Newell Cooper (1934–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  88. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Edmund Sixtus Muskie (1914–1996)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  89. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Alexander Meigs Haig Jr. (1924–2010)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  90. ↑ "Walter John Stoessel Jr. (1920–1986)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  91. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: George Pratt Shultz (1920–2021)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  92. ↑ "Michael Hayden Armacost (1937–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  93. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Addison Baker III (1930–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  94. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger (1930–2011)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  95. ↑ Friedman, Thomas L. (January 20, 1993). "Clinton Rounds Out State Dept. Team". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  96. ↑ "Frank G. Wisner II (1938–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  97. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Madeleine Korbel Albright (1937–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  98. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Colin Luther Powell (1937–2021)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  99. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Condoleezza Rice (1954–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  100. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  101. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: John Forbes Kerry (1943–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  102. ↑ "Thomas Alfred Shannon Jr. (1958–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  103. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Rex W. Tillerson (1952–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  104. ↑ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Michael R. Pompeo (1963–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  105. ↑ "Daniel Bennett Smith (1956–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  106. ↑ "Antony Blinken (1962–)". Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved 2021-11-10.




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