Women Cabinet Members

Women who have served U.S. Presidents in cabinet-level positions.

• Frances Perkins (born 1882, died 1965)

  American social worker and public official. The first woman to hold a U.S. Cabinet post. Original name: Fannie Coralie Perkins.

  • U.S. Secretary of Labor, 1933-45
• Madeleine K. Albright (born 1937)

  Czechoslovakian-born American diplomat. First woman to become U.S. secretary of state.

  • U.S. secretary of state, 1997-
• Carla A. Hills (born 1934)

  American government official.

  • U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, 1975-77
• Juanita M. Kreps (born 1921)

  American government official and educator.

  • U.S. secretary of commerce, 1977-79
• Patricia R. Harris (born 1924, died 1985)

  American diplomat.

  • U.S. secretary of health, education and welfare, 1979; secretary of health and human services, 1979-81; secretary of housing and urban development, 1977-79
• Shirley M. Hufstedler (born 1925)

  American government official.

  • U.S. secretary of education, 1979-81
• Ann McLaughlin (born 1941)

  American government official.

  • U.S. secretary of labor, 1987-89
• Elizabeth Hanford Dole (born 1936)

  American government official. Holder of two cabinet posts, and president of the American Red Cross. Wife of politician Bob Dole.

  • U.S. secretary of transportation, 1983-87; secretary of labor, 1989-90
• Barbara Franklin (born 1940)

  American government official.

  • U.S. secretary of commerce, 1991-93
• Lynn Martin (born 1939)

  American legislator, stateswoman and educator.

  • U.S. secretary of labor, 1990-93
• Janet Reno (born 1938)

  American lawyer and government official.

  • U.S. attorney general, 1993-
• Donna E. Shalala (born 1941)

  American educator and government official. President of Hunter College, 1980-88; chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, 1988-93.

  • U.S. secretary of health and human services, 1993-
• Hazel O'Leary (born 1937)

  American businesswoman and government official.

  • U.S. secretary of energy, 1993-
• Margaret M. Heckler (born 1931)

  American politician and government official.

  • U.S. secretary of health and human services, 1983-85
• Alexis M. Herman (born 1947)

  American government official.

  • U.S. secretary of labor, 1997-