A total of 126 senators have served in cabinet positions since 1789; 45 senators resigned their Senate seat to join the cabinet; 2 senators (Webster and Sherman) resigned from the Senate twice.
* Indicates senators who resigned their Senate seats to accept cabinet positions
Senator | Cabinet Post | Years | Administration | Senate Service |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spencer Abraham (R-MI) | Energy | 2001-2005 | George W. Bush | 19952001 |
Brock Adams (D-WA) | Transportation | 19771979 | Carter | 19871993 |
John Quincy Adams (F-MA) | State | 18171825 | Monroe | 18031808 |
Lamar Alexander (R-TN) | Education | 19911993 | George W. Bush | 20032021 |
Russell A. Alger (R-MI) | War | 18971899 | McKinley | 19021907 |
Clinton P. Anderson (D-NM) | Agriculture | 19451948 | Truman | 19491973 |
John Armstrong, Jr. (DR-NY) | War | 18131814 | Madison | 18031804 |
18001802
John D. Ashcroft (R-MO) | Attorney General | 20012005 | George W. Bush | 19952001 |
George E. Badger (W-NC) | Navy | 1841 | W. Harrison/Tyler | 18461855 |
James Barbour (R, CRR-VA)
| War | 18251828 | J.Q. Adams | 18151825 |
William T. Barry (DR-KY) | PM General | 18291836 | Jackson | 18141816 |
Thomas F. Bayard, Sr. (D-DE)
| State | 18851889 | Cleveland | 18691885 |
John Bell (W, OP, AmKN-TN) | War | 1841 | W. Harrison/ Tyler | 18471859 |
Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr. (D-TX)
| Treasury | 19931994 | B. Clinton | 19711993 |
John M. Berrien (J, W-GA)
| Attorney General | 18291831 | Jackson | 18411845 18451852 |
18251829
George M. Bibb (DR, J, R-KY) | Treasury | 18441845 | Tyler | 18291835 |
18111814
James G. Blaine (R-ME)
| State | 1881 | Garfield/Arthur | 18761881 |
James G. Blaine (R-ME)
| State | 18891892 | B. Harrison | 18761881 |
George S. Boutwell (R-MA) | Treasury | 18691873 | Grant | 18731877 |
Nicholas F. Brady (R-NJ) | Treasury | 19891993 | Bush | 1982 |
John Branch (CRR-NC)
| Navy | 18291831 | Jackson | 18231829 |
John Breckinridge (DR-KY)
| Attorney General | 18051806 | Jefferson | 18011805 |
William E. Brock III (R-TN) | Labor | 19851987 | Reagan | 19711977 |
Orville H. Browning (R-IL) | Interior | 18661869 | A. Johnson | 18611863 |
James Buchanan ( J, D-PA)
| State | 18451849 | Polk | 18341845 |
James F. Byrnes (D-SC) | State | 19451947 | Truman | 19311941 |
John C. Calhoun (N, D-SC) | War | 18171825 | Monroe | 18321843 |
John C. Calhoun (N, D-SC) | State | 18441845 | Tyler | 18451850 |
James D. Cameron (R-PA) | War | 18761877 | Grant | 18771897 |
Simon Cameron (D, R-PA)
| War | 18611862 | Lincoln | 18571861 18671877 |
18451849
George W. Campbell (DR-TN)
| Treasury | 1814 | Madison | 18151818 |
18111814
John G. Carlisle (D-KY)
| Treasury | 18931897 | Cleveland | 18901893 |
Lewis Cass (D-MI) | War | 18311836 | Jackson | 18491857 |
18451848
Lewis Cass (D-MI) | State | 18571860 | Buchanan | 18491857 |
18451848
William E. Chandler (R-NH) | Navy | 18821885 | Arthur | 18891901 |
18871889
Zachariah Chandler (R-MI) | Interior | 18751877 | Grant | 1879 |
18571875
Salmon P. Chase (FS, R-OH)
| Treasury | 18611864 | Lincoln | 1861 |
18491855
Henry Clay (DR, AJ, W-KY) | State | 18251829 | J.Q. Adams | 18101811 |
18061807
John M. Clayton (AJ, W, OP-DE)
| State | 18491850 | Taylor | 18451849 18531856 |
18291836
Hillary R. Clinton (D-NY)
| State | 20092013 | Obama | 20012009 |
William S. Cohen (R-ME) | Defense | 19972001 | Clinton | 19791997 |
Jacob Collamer (OP-VT) | PM General | 18491850 | Taylor/Fillmore | 18551865 |
Charles M. Conrad (W-LA) | War | 18501853 | Fillmore | 18421843 |
Thomas Corwin (W-OH)
| Treasury | 18501853 | Fillmore | 18451850 |
William H. Crawford (DR-GA) | War | 18151816 | Madison | 18071813 |
William H. Crawford (DR-GA) | Treasury | 18161825 | Madison Monroe | 18071813 |
John A. J. Creswell (UU-MD) | PM General | 18691874 | Grant | 18651867 |
John J. Crittenden (DR, AJ, W, OP, AmKN-KY) | Attorney General | 1841 | W. Harrison/Tyler | 18351841 18421848 |
18171819
John J. Crittenden (DR, AJ, W, OP, AmKN-KY) | Attorney General | 18551861 | 18501853Fillmore | 18351841 18421848 |
18171819
James J. Davis (R-PA) | Labor | 19211930 | Harding Coolidge Hoover | 19301945 |
Jefferson Davis (D-MS) | War | 18531857 | Pierce | 18571861 |
18471851
Samuel Dexter (F-MA)
| War | 18001801 | J. Adams | 17991800 |
Samuel Dexter (F-MA) | Treasury | 1801 | J. Adams Jefferson | 17991800 |
Mahlon Dickerson (DR, CRR, J-NJ) | Navy | 18341838 | Jackson Van Buren | 18291833 |
18171829
John A. Dix (D-NY) | Treasury | 1861 | Buchanan | 18451849 |
Elizabeth H. Dole (R-NC) | Labor | 19891990 | George Bush | 20032009 |
Elizabeth H. Dole (R-NC) | Transportation | 19831987 | Reagan | 20032009 |
John F. Dulles (R-NY) | State | 19531959 | Eisenhower | 1949 |
John H. Eaton (DR, JR, J-TN)
| War | 18291831 | Jackson | 18211829 |
18181821
Stephen B. Elkins (R-WV) | War | 18911893 | B. Harrison | 18951911 |
William M. Evarts (R-NY) | Attorney General | 18681869 | A. Johnson | 18851891 |
William M. Evarts (R-NY) | State | 18771881 | Hayes | 18851891 |
Edward Everett (W-MA) | State | 18521853 | Fillmore | 18531854 |
Thomas Ewing (AJ-OH) | Treasury | 1841 | W. Harrison/Tyler | 18311837 |
Thomas Ewing (AJ-OH) | Interior | 18491850 | Taylor/Fillmore | 18501851 |
Albert B. Fall (R-NM)
| Interior | 19211923 | Harding | 19121921 |
William P. Fessenden (W, OP, R-ME)
| Treasury | 18641865 | Lincoln | 18651869 |
18541864
Hamilton Fish (W-NY) | State | 18691877 | Grant | 18511857 |
John Forsyth (DR, J-GA)
| State | 18341841 | Jackson Van Buren | 18291834 |
18181819
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) | State | 18811885 | Arthur | 18711877 |
18661869
Augustus H. Garland (D-AR)
| Attorney General | 18851889 | Cleveland | 18771885 |
Carter Glass (D-VA) | Treasury | 19181920 | Wilson | 19201946 |
Nathan Goff (R-WV) | Navy | 1881 | Hayes | 19131919 |
William A. Graham (W-NC) | Navy | 18501852 | Fillmore | 18401843 |
Felix Grundy (J, D-TN)
| Attorney General | 18381839 | Van Buren | 18391840 |
18291838
James Guthrie (D-KY) | Treasury | 18531857 | Pierce | 18651868 |
Chuck Hagel (R-NE) | Defense | 20132015 | Obama | 19972009 |
James Harlan (FS, R-IA)
| Interior | 18651866 | A. Johnson | 18571865 18671873 |
18551857
Timothy O. Howe (R-WI) | PM General | 18821883 | Arthur | 18611879 |
Cordell Hull (D-TN)
| State | 19331944 | F. Roosevelt | 19311933 |
Mike Johanns (R-NE) | Agriculture | 20052007 | G.W. Bush | 20092015 |
Reverdy Johnson (W, U, D-MD)
| Attorney General | 18491850 | Taylor/Fillmore | 18631868 |
18451849
Frank B. Kellogg (R-MN) | State | 19251929 | Coolidge | 19171923 |
Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID) | Interior | 20062009 | George W. Bush | 19931999 |
Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) | Attorney General | 19611964 | Kennedy/L. Johnson | 19651968 |
John F. Kerry (D-MA)
| State | 20132017 | Obama | 19852013 |
David M. Key (D-TN) | PM General | 18771880 | Hayes | 18751877 |
Samuel J. Kirkwood (R-IA)
| Interior | 18811882 | Garfield/Arthur | 18771881 |
18661867
Philander C. Knox (R-PA) | Attorney General | 19011904 | McKinley/T.Roosevelt | 19041909 |
Philander C. Knox (R-PA)
| State | 19091913 | Taft | 19171921 |
Lucius Q. C. Lamar (D-MS)
| Interior | 18851888 | Cleveland | 18771885 |
Edward Livingston (J-LA)
| State | 18311833 | Jackson | 18291831 |
William G. McAdoo (D-CA) | Treasury | 19131918 | Wilson | 19331938 |
J. Howard McGrath (D-RI)
| Attorney General | 19491952 | Truman | 19471949 |
Louis McLane (J-DE) | Treasury | 18311833 | Jackson | 18271829 |
Louis McLane (J-DE) | State | 18331834 | Jackson | 18271829 |
William L. Marcy (J-NY) | War | 18451849 | Polk | 18311833 |
William L. Marcy (J-NY) | State | 18531857 | Pierce | 18311833 |
Mel Martinez (R-FL) | HUD | 20012003 | George W. Bush | 20052009 |
Return J. Meigs, Jr. (DR-OH) | PM General | 18141823 | Madison Monroe | 18081810 |
James Monroe (Anti-Admin-VA) | State War1 | 18141815 | 18111817 Madison | 17901794 |
Lot M. Morrill (R-ME)
| Treasury | 18761877 | Grant | 18691876 |
18611869
Edmund S. Muskie (D-ME)
| State | 19801981 | Carter | 19591980 |
Harry S. New (R-IN) | PM General | 19231929 | Harding Coolidge | 19171923 |
Truman H. Newberry (R-MI) | Navy | 19081909 | T. Roosevelt | 19191922 |
John M. Niles (J, D-CT) | PM General | 18401841 | Van Buren | 18431849 |
18351839
Timothy Pickering (F-MA) | PM General | 1791 | Washington | 18031811 |
Timothy Pickering (F-MA) | War | 1795 | Washington | 18031811 |
Timothy Pickering (F-MA) | State | 17951800 | Washington Adams | 18031811 |
William Pinkney (DR-MD) | Attorney General | 18111814 | Madison | 18191822 |
Redfield Proctor (R-VT) | War | 18891891 | B. Harrison | 18911908 |
Alexander Ramsey (R-MN) | War | 18791881 | Hayes | 18631875 |
Abraham A. Ribicoff (D-CT) | HEW | 19611962 | Kennedy | 19631981 |
Caesar A. Rodney (DR-DE) | Attorney General | 18071811 | Jefferson Madison | 18221823 |
Elihu Root (R-NY) | War | 18991904 | McKinley/T. Roosevelt | 19091915 |
Elihu Root (R-NY) | State | 19051909 | T. Roosevelt | 19091915 |
Marco Rubio (R-FL)
| State | 2025present | Trump | 20112025 |
Kenneth L. Salazar (D-CO)
| Interior | 20092013 | Obama | 20052009 |
William B. Saxbe (R-OH)
| Attorney General | 19741975 | Nixon/Ford | 19691974 |
Carl Schurz (R-MO) | Interior | 18771881 | Hayes | 18691875 |
Richard S. Schweiker (R-PA) | HHS | 19811983 | Reagan | 19691981 |
Lewis B. Schwellenbach (D-WA) | Labor | 19451948 | Truman | 19351940 |
Frederick A. Seaton (R-NE) | Interior | 19561961 | Eisenhower | 19511952 |
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
| Attorney General | 20172018 | Trump | 19972017 |
William H. Seward (W, R-NY) | State | 18611869 | Lincoln/A. Johnson | 18491861 |
John Sherman (R-OH)
| Treasury | 18771881 | Hayes | 18811897 |
18611877
John Sherman (R-OH)
| State | 18971898 | McKinley | 18811897 |
18611877
Hoke Smith (D-GA) | Interior | 18931896 | Cleveland | 19111921 |
Samuel L. Southard (DR, AJ, W-NJ)
| Navy | 18231829 | Monroe J.Q. Adams | 18331842 |
18211823
Samuel L. Southard (DR, AJ, W-NJ) | Treasury | 1825 | J.Q. Adams | 18331842 |
18211823
Samuel L. Southard (DR, AJ, W-NJ) | War | 1828 | J.Q. Adams | 18331842 |
18211823
Claude A. Swanson (D-VA) | Navy | 19331939 | F. Roosevelt | 19101933 |
Henry M. Teller (R, SR, D-CO)
| Interior | 18821885 | Arthur | 18851897 18971903 19031909 |
18761882
Isaac Toucey (D-CT) | Attorney General | 18481849 | Polk | 18521857 |
Isaac Toucey (D-CT) | Navy | 18571861 | Buchanan | 18521857 |
Martin Van Buren (DR, CRR, J-NY)
| State | 18291831 | Jackson | 18211828 |
William F. Vilas (D-WI) | PM General | 18851888 | Cleveland | 18911897 |
William F. Vilas (D-WI) | Interior | 18881889 | Cleveland | 18911897 |
Robert J. Walker (D-MS)
| Treasury | 18451849 | Polk | 18351845 |
Daniel Webster (Adams, AJ, W-MA)
| State | 18411843 | W. Harrison/Tyler | 18451850 |
18271841
Daniel Webster (Adams, AJ, W-MA)
| State | 18501852 | Fillmore | 18451850 |
18271841
John W. Weeks (R-MA) | War | 19211925 | Harding Coolidge | 19131919 |
Sinclair Weeks (R-MA) | Commerce | 19531958 | Eisenhower | 1944 |
William Wilkins (J-PA) | War | 18441845 | Tyler | 18311834 |
George H. Williams (R-OR) | Attorney General | 18721875 | Grant | 18651871 |
William Windom (R-MN)
| Treasury | 1881 | Garfield/Arthur | 18711881 18811883 |
18701871
William Windom (R-MN) | Treasury | 18891891 | B. Harrison | 18711881 18811883 |
18701871
Levi Woodbury (J, D-NH) | Navy | 18311834 | Jackson | 18411845 |
18251831
Levi Woodbury (J, D-NH) | Treasury | 18341841 | Jackson Van Buren | 18411845 |
18251831