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United States Secretary Of StateThe United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet. History George Washington signed a congressional bill into law on July 27, 1789 (1 Stat. 28), creating an executive Department of Foreign Affairs headed by a Secretary of Foreign Affairs, whose position had existed since 1781 under the Articles of Confederation. Congress then passed another law giving certain additional domestic responsibilities to the new Department and changing its name to the Department of State and the name of head of the department to the Secretary of State, and Washington approved this act on September 15, 1789. The new domestic duties assigned to the newly renamed department were receipt, publication, distribution, and preservation of laws of the United States, custody of the Great Seal of the United States, authentication of copies and preparation of commissions of executive branch appointments, and finally custody of the books, papers, and records of the Continental Congress including the Constitution itself and the Declaration of Independence. Functions Most of the original domestic functions of the Department of State have been transferred to other agencies. Those that remain in the Department are: storage and use of the Great Seal, performance of protocol functions for the White House, drafting of certain Presidential proclamations, formally accepting notice of the president's resignation, and replies to public inquiries. In addition, the Secretary performs such duties as the President is required, in accordance with the United States Constitution, relating to correspondence, commission, or instructions to U.S. ministers or consuls abroad, and to conduct negotiations with foreign representatives. The Secretary has also served as principal adviser to the President in the determination and execution of U.S. foreign policy and in recent decades has become responsible for overall direction, coordination, and supervision of interdepartmental activities of the U.S. Government overseas, except for certain military activities. As the highest-ranking Cabinet member, the Secretary of State is fourth in line to succeed the Presidency, after the Vice President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and President pro tempore of the Senate. (See the entire United States presidential line of succession). Oath of Office The Oath of Office for the Vice President, Secretary of State, and other federal employees is as follows: "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." Lists of Secretaries of State Secretaries of State | erm of Office | President(s) served under | | a href="/encyclopedia/Thomas-Jefferson" title="Thomas Jefferson">Thomas Jefferson | March 22, 1790–December 31, 1793 | George Washington | | a href="/encyclopedia/Edmund-Randolph" title="Edmund Randolph">Edmund Randolph | January 2, 1794–August 20, 1795 | George Washington | | a href="/encyclopedia/Timothy-Pickering" title="Timothy Pickering">Timothy Pickering | December 10, 1795–May 12, 1800 | George Washington, John Adams | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Marshall" title="John Marshall">John Marshall | June 6, 1800–February 4, 1801 | John Adams | | a href="/encyclopedia/James-Madison" title="James Madison">James Madison | May 2, 1801–March 3, 1809 | Thomas Jefferson | | a href="/encyclopedia/Robert-Smith-(U.S.-politician)" title="Robert Smith (U.S. politician)">Robert Smith | March 6, 1809–April 1, 1811 | James Madison | | a href="/encyclopedia/James-Monroe" title="James Monroe">James Monroe | April 6, 1811–September 30, 1814
February 28, 1815–March 3, 1817 | James Madison | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Quincy-Adams" title="John Quincy Adams">John Quincy Adams | September 22, 1817–March 3, 1825 | James Monroe | | a href="/encyclopedia/Henry-Clay" title="Henry Clay">Henry Clay | March 7, 1825–March 3, 1829 | John Quincy Adams | | a href="/encyclopedia/Martin-Van-Buren" title="Martin Van Buren">Martin Van Buren | March 28, 1829–March 23, 1831 | Andrew Jackson | | a href="/encyclopedia/Edward-Livingston" title="Edward Livingston">Edward Livingston | May 24, 1831–May 29, 1833 | Andrew Jackson | | a href="/encyclopedia/Louis-McLane" title="Louis McLane">Louis McLane | May 29, 1833–June 30, 1834 | Andrew Jackson | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Forsyth" title="John Forsyth">John Forsyth | July 1, 1834–March 3, 1841 | Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren | | a href="/encyclopedia/Daniel-Webster" title="Daniel Webster">Daniel Webster | March 6, 1841–May 8, 1843 | William Henry Harrison, John Tyler | | a href="/encyclopedia/Abel-P.-Upshur" title="Abel P. Upshur">Abel Parker Upshur | July 24, 1843–February 28, 1844 | John Tyler | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-C.-Calhoun" title="John C. Calhoun">John Caldwell Calhoun | April 1, 1844–March 10, 1845 | John Tyler | | a href="/encyclopedia/James-Buchanan" title="James Buchanan">James Buchanan | March 10, 1845–March 7, 1849 | James K. Polk | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Clayton" title="John Clayton">John Clayton | March 8, 1849–July 22, 1850 | Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore | | a href="/encyclopedia/Daniel-Webster" title="Daniel Webster">Daniel Webster | July 23, 1850–October 24, 1852 | Millard Fillmore | | a href="/encyclopedia/Edward-Everett" title="Edward Everett">Edward Everett | November 6, 1852–March 3, 1853 | Millard Fillmore | | a href="/encyclopedia/William-L.-Marcy" title="William L. Marcy">William Learned Marcy | March 8, 1853–March 6, 1857 | Franklin Pierce | | a href="/encyclopedia/Lewis-Cass" title="Lewis Cass">Lewis Cass | March 6, 1857–December 14, 1860 | James Buchanan | | a href="/encyclopedia/Jeremiah-S.-Black" title="Jeremiah S. Black">Jeremiah Sullivan Black | December 17, 1860–March 5, 1861 | James Buchanan | | a href="/encyclopedia/William-H.-Seward" title="William H. Seward">William Henry Seward | March 6, 1861–March 4, 1869 | Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson | | a href="/encyclopedia/Elihu-B.-Washburne" title="Elihu B. Washburne">Elihu Benjamin Washburne | March 5, 1869–March 16, 1869 | Ulysses S. Grant | | a href="/encyclopedia/Hamilton-Fish" title="Hamilton Fish">Hamilton Fish | March 17, 1869–March 12, 1877 | Ulysses S. Grant | | a href="/encyclopedia/William-M.-Evarts" title="William M. Evarts">William Maxwell Evarts | March 12, 1877–March 7, 1881 | Rutherford B. Hayes | | a href="/encyclopedia/James-Blaine" title="James Blaine">James Gillespie Blaine | March 7, 1881–December 19, 1881 | James Garfield, Chester A. Arthur | | a href="/encyclopedia/Frederick-T.-Frelinghuysen" title="Frederick T. Frelinghuysen">Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen | December 19, 1881–March 6, 1885 | Chester A. Arthur | | a href="/encyclopedia/Thomas-F.-Bayard" title="Thomas F. Bayard">Thomas F. Bayard | March 7, 1885–March 6, 1889 | Grover Cleveland | | a href="/encyclopedia/James-Blaine" title="James Blaine">James Gillespie Blaine | March 7, 1889–June 4, 1892 | Benjamin Harrison | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-W.-Foster" title="John W. Foster">John W. Foster | June 29, 1892–February 23, 1893 | Benjamin Harrison | | a href="/encyclopedia/Walter-Q.-Gresham" title="Walter Q. Gresham">Walter Q. Gresham | March 7, 1893–May 28, 1895 | Grover Cleveland | | a href="/encyclopedia/Richard-Olney" title="Richard Olney">Richard Olney | June 10, 1895–March 5, 1897 | Grover Cleveland | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Sherman" title="John Sherman">John Sherman | March 6, 1897–April 27, 1898 | William McKinley | | a href="/encyclopedia/William-R.-Day" title="William R. Day">William R. Day | April 28, 1898–September 16, 1898 | William McKinley | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Hay" title="John Hay">John Hay | September 30, 1898–July 1, 1905 | William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt | | a href="/encyclopedia/Elihu-Root" title="Elihu Root">Elihu Root | July 19, 1905–January 27, 1909 | Theodore Roosevelt | | a href="/encyclopedia/Robert-Bacon" title="Robert Bacon">Robert Bacon | January 27, 1909–March 5, 1909 | Theodore Roosevelt | | a href="/encyclopedia/Philander-C.-Knox" title="Philander C. Knox">Philander C. Knox | March 6, 1909–March 5, 1913 | William Howard Taft | | a href="/encyclopedia/William-Jennings-Bryan" title="William Jennings Bryan">William Jennings Bryan | March 5, 1913–June 9, 1915 | Woodrow Wilson | | a href="/encyclopedia/Robert-Lansing" title="Robert Lansing">Robert Lansing | June 24, 1915–February 13, 1920 | Woodrow Wilson | | a href="/encyclopedia/Bainbridge-Colby" title="Bainbridge Colby">Bainbridge Colby | March 23, 1920–March 4, 1921 | Woodrow Wilson | | a href="/encyclopedia/Charles-Evans-Hughes" title="Charles Evans Hughes">Charles Evans Hughes | March 5, 1921–March 4, 1925 | Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge | | a href="/encyclopedia/Frank-B.-Kellogg" title="Frank B. Kellogg">Frank B. Kellogg | March 5, 1925–March 28, 1929 | Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover | | a href="/encyclopedia/Henry-L.-Stimson" title="Henry L. Stimson">Henry L. Stimson | March 28, 1929–March 4, 1933 | Herbert Hoover | | a href="/encyclopedia/Cordell-Hull" title="Cordell Hull">Cordell Hull | March 4, 1933–November 30, 1944 | Franklin D. Roosevelt | | a href="/encyclopedia/Edward-Stettinius-Jr." title="Edward Stettinius Jr.">Edward Stettinius Jr. | December 1, 1944–June 27, 1945 | Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman | | a href="/encyclopedia/James-F.-Byrnes" title="James F. Byrnes">James F. Byrnes | July 3, 1945–January 21, 1947 | Harry S. Truman | | a href="/encyclopedia/George-C.-Marshall" title="George C. Marshall">George Catlett Marshall | January 21, 1947–January 20, 1949 | Harry S. Truman | | a href="/encyclopedia/Dean-Acheson" title="Dean Acheson">Dean Acheson | January 21, 1949–January 20, 1953 | Harry S. Truman | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Foster-Dulles" title="John Foster Dulles">John Foster Dulles | January 21, 1953–April 22, 1959 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | | a href="/encyclopedia/Christian-Herter" title="Christian Herter">Christian Herter | April 22, 1959–January 20, 1961 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | | a href="/encyclopedia/Dean-Rusk" title="Dean Rusk">Dean Rusk | January 21, 1961–January 20, 1969 | John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson | | a href="/encyclopedia/William-P.-Rogers" title="William P. Rogers">William P. Rogers | January 22, 1969–September 3, 1973 | Richard M. Nixon | | a href="/encyclopedia/Henry-A.-Kissinger" title="Henry A. Kissinger">Henry A. Kissinger | September 22, 1973–January 20, 1977 | Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford | | a href="/encyclopedia/Cyrus-Vance" title="Cyrus Vance">Cyrus Vance | January 23, 1977–April 28, 1980 | Jimmy Carter | | a href="/encyclopedia/Edmund-S.-Muskie" title="Edmund S. Muskie">Edmund Sixtus Muskie | May 8, 1980–January 18, 1981 | Jimmy Carter | | a href="/encyclopedia/Alexander-M.-Haig" title="Alexander M. Haig">Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr. | January 22, 1981–July 5, 1982 | Ronald Reagan | | a href="/encyclopedia/George-P.-Shultz" title="George P. Shultz">George P. Shultz | July 16, 1982–January 20, 1989 | Ronald Reagan | | a href="/encyclopedia/James-Baker" title="James Baker">James Baker | January 25, 1989–August 23, 1992 | George H. W. Bush | | a href="/encyclopedia/Lawrence-Eagleburger" title="Lawrence Eagleburger">Lawrence Eagleburger | December 8, 1992–January 19, 1993 | George H. W. Bush | | a href="/encyclopedia/Warren-Christopher" title="Warren Christopher">Warren Christopher | January 20, 1993–January 17, 1997 | Bill Clinton | | a href="/encyclopedia/Madeleine-Albright" title="Madeleine Albright">Madeleine Albright | January 23, 1997–January 19, 2001 | Bill Clinton | | a href="/encyclopedia/Colin-Powell" title="Colin Powell">Colin Powell | January 20, 2001 – January 26, 2005 | George W. Bush | | a href="/encyclopedia/Condoleezza-Rice" title="Condoleezza Rice">Condoleezza Rice | January 26, 2005 – present | George W. Bush | In addition to the President listed, this Secretary of State served for a brief period of time (8 days or less) under that President's successor until a replacement could be named and confirmed. Acting Secretaries of State If the Secretary resigns, the United States Deputy Secretary of State serves as Acting Secretary of State until the President and Senate approve a formal replacement. | erm of Service | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Jay" title="John Jay">John Jay | March 4 – 22, 1790 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Timothy-Pickering" title="Timothy Pickering">Timothy Pickering | August 20 – December 9, 1795 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Charles-Lee" title="Charles Lee">Charles Lee | May 13 – June 5, 1800 | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Marshall" title="John Marshall">John Marshall | February 4 – March 4, 1801 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Levi-Lincoln" title="Levi Lincoln">Levi Lincoln | March 5 – May 1, 1801 | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Graham" title="John Graham">John Graham | March 4 – 9, 1817 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Richard-Rush" title="Richard Rush">Richard Rush | March 10 – September 22, 1817 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Daniel-Brent" title="Daniel Brent">Daniel Brent | March 4 – 7, 1825 | | a href="/encyclopedia/James-A.-Hamilton" title="James A. Hamilton">James A. Hamilton | March 4 – 27, 1829 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Jacob-L.-Martin" title="Jacob L. Martin">Jacob L. Martin | March 4 – 5, 1841 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Hugh-S.-Legar" title="Hugh S. Legar">Hugh S. Legar | May 9 – June 20, 1843 | | a href="/encyclopedia/William-S.-Derrick" title="William S. Derrick">William S. Derrick | June 21 – 23, 1843 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Abel-P.-Upshur" title="Abel P. Upshur">Abel P. Upshur | June 24 – July 23, 1843 | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Nelson-(lawyer)" title="John Nelson (lawyer)">John Nelson (lawyer) | February 29 – March 31, 1844 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Charles-M.-Conrad" title="Charles M. Conrad">Charles M. Conrad | October 25 – November 5, 1852 | | a href="/encyclopedia/William-Hunter" title="William Hunter">William Hunter | March 4 – 7, 1853 | | illiam Hunter | December 15 – 16, 1860 | | a href="/encyclopedia/William-F.-Wharton" title="William F. Wharton">William F. Wharton | June 4 – 29, 1892 | | illiam F. Wharton | February 24 – March 6, 1893 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Edwin-F.-Uhl" title="Edwin F. Uhl">Edwin F. Uhl | May 28 – June 9, 1895 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Alvey-A.-Adee" title="Alvey A. Adee">Alvey A. Adee | September 17 – 29, 1898 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Francis-B.-Loomis" title="Francis B. Loomis">Francis B. Loomis | July 1 – 18, 1905 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Robert-Lansing" title="Robert Lansing">Robert Lansing | June 9 – 23, 1915 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Frank-L.-Polk" title="Frank L. Polk">Frank L. Polk | February 14 – March 12, 1920 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Joseph-C.-Crew" title="Joseph C. Crew">Joseph C. Crew | June 28 – July 3, 1945 | | a href="/encyclopedia/H.-Freeman-Matthews" title="H. Freeman Matthews">H. Freeman Matthews | January 20 – 21, 1953 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Livingston-T.-Merchant" title="Livingston T. Merchant">Livingston T. Merchant | January 20 – 21, 1961 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Charles-E.-Bohlen" title="Charles E. Bohlen">Charles E. Bohlen | January 20 – 22, 1969 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Kenneth-Rush" title="Kenneth Rush">Kenneth Rush | September 3 – 22, 1973 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Philip-C.-Habib" title="Philip C. Habib">Philip C. Habib | January 20 – 23, 1977 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Warren-Christopher" title="Warren Christopher">Warren Christopher | April 28 – May 2, 1980 | | a href="/encyclopedia/David-Newsom" title="David Newsom">David Newsom | May 2 – 3, 1980 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Richard-N.-Cooper" title="Richard N. Cooper">Richard N. Cooper | May 3, 1980 | | avid Newsom | May 3 – 4, 1980 | | arren Christopher | May 4 – 8, 1980 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Walter-J.-Stoessel,-Jr." title="Walter J. Stoessel, Jr.">Walter J. Stoessel, Jr. | July 5 – 16, 1982 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Michael-H.-Armacost" title="Michael H. Armacost">Michael H. Armacost | January 20 – 25, 1989 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Lawrence-Eagleburger" title="Lawrence Eagleburger">Lawrence Eagleburger | August 23 – December 8, 1992 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Arnold-Lee-Kantor" title="Arnold Lee Kantor">Arnold Lee Kantor | January 20, 1993 | | a href="/encyclopedia/Frank-G.-Wisner" title="Frank G. Wisner">Frank G. Wisner | January 20, 1993 | External link State United States, State, Secretary of
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