Do the cabinet members have a hierarchy, and if so, which advisor is senior?
++++++++++
07-10-02, 12:29 AM
coldfuse
If Presidential succession is any measure, then the current order for cabinet officers (after Vice President, Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate), with the current secretary, is:

Secretary of State Colin Powell
Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Attorney General John Ashcroft
Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton
Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman
Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans
Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Melquiades Rafael Martinez
Secretary of Transportation Norman Yoshiro Mineta
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham
Secretary of Education Roderick Paige
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi

In any administration, the office pecking order may have a lot to do with the relationship with the President. The First Lady, the Chief of Staff, the Press Secretary and others not listed above may be extremely influential.

07-10-02, 01:22 AM
mahal
Thanks for the answer, Coldfuse.

The question arose from the last chapter of "Years of Upheaval" (part of Kissinger's memoirs). He's talking about Nixon's reluctance to resign, and he made the comment that he, as the secretary of state, was senior in the cabinet, and it was partially up to him to bring the matter to a head. I was wondering what made him senior.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,