Women Members who Became Cabinet Members
Through the opening of the 111th Congress (2009–2011), 14 congresswomen have been
appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Foreign Ministers, Ambassadors,
and Cabinet Secretaries. This chronological list includes nine Representatives and two Senators.
Of them, only Representative Margaret Heckler (R-MA, 1967–1983) served as both a Cabinet
Secretary and an Ambassador. Senator Elizabeth Dole (R–NC, 2003–2009) served in two
different Cabinet Secretary positions under two different Presidents.
A DMINSTRATON OF J OHN F. K ENN EDY
Member Name
Position
Kathryn E. Granahan
Secretary of the Treasury, 1963–1967*
F IRST A DMINISTRATION OF L YNDON B. J OHNSON
Member Name
Position
Kathryn E. Granahan
Secretary of the Treasury, 1963–1967*
F IRST A DMINISTRATION OF R ONALD R EAGAN
Member Name
Position
Elizabeth Dole
Secretary of Transportation, 1983–1987
Margaret M. Heckler
Secretary of Health & Human Services, 1983–1985
A DMINSTRATION OF G EORGE H. W. B USH
Member Name
Position
Elizabeth Dole
Secretary of Labor, 1989–1990
Lynn Martin
Secretary of Labor, 1991–1993
A DMINSTRATION OF B A RACK O BAMA
Member Name
Position
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State, 2009–
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Hilda L. Solis
Secretary of Labor, 2009–
* Kathryn E. Granahan was appointed by President John F. Kennedy and continued to serve
under President Lyndon B. Johnson
Source: Women in Congress, Historical Data
(Available at: http://womenincongress.house.gov/historical-data/cabinet-membersdiplomats.html)
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