This is a list of United States Cabinet members who have served for more than two presidential terms.

More than eight years in a single cabinet office

More than eight years over multiple cabinet offices

Near misses and technicalities

Several individuals have come close to this distinction; only having have missed it by months, weeks, or days. Listed below are the names of individuals who came within a year of the achievement.

  • William L. Marcy missed this distinction by 2 days, having served under President James K. Polk as Secretary of War (1845–1849), and under Presidents Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan as their Secretary of State (1853–1857). Marcy served for 2921 days over these 3 administrations, just under the threshold of 2922 days.
  • David F. Houston missed this distinction by 3 days, having served under President Woodrow Wilson as Secretary of Agriculture (1913–1920) and then as Secretary of the Treasury (1920–1921). Houston served for 2920 days, which is exactly 8 regular years (not accounting for leap days), leaving him just short of 2922 day threshold.
  • William P. Rogers served for 2872 days in a cabinet office, 51 days short. Rogers served first under President Dwight Eisenhower as Attorney General (1957–1961) and then later under Richard Nixon as Secretary of State. Rogers earlier served in the sub-cabinet as Deputy Attorney General (1953–1957), and as a result served at a cabinet or sub-cabinet level during all 2922 days of the Eisenhower Administration.
  • Richard Rush served for 2832 days in a cabinet office, 91 days short. Rush first served under James Madison and then James Monroe as their Attorney General (1814–1817). Rush also simultaneously served as acting Secretary of State for a short period under Monroe. Rush later returned to the cabinet under John Quincy Adams as his Secretary of the Treasury (1825–1829).

Notes

References


Your Guide to the of the United States Stacker

President's American Government Info

Of United States at Eric Bartley blog

United States Members

What Are Two Level Positions In The United States Bruin Blog