United States Secretary of Labor

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Secretary of Labor of the United States of America
120px
Seal of the United States Department of Labor
130px
Flag of the Secretary of Labor
Incumbent
Thomas Perez

since July 23, 2013
United States Department of Labor
Style Mr. Secretary
Member of Cabinet
Reports to The President
Seat Washington, D.C.
Appointer The President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length No fixed term
Constituting instrument 29 U.S.C. § 551
Formation March 4, 1913
First holder William B. Wilson
Succession Tenth in the United States Presidential Line of Succession
Deputy Deputy Secretary of Labor
Salary Executive Schedule, level 1
Website www.dol.gov

The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the U.S. Department of Labor, exercises control over the department, and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies.

There used to be a U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Labor, who led this department with the U.S. Department of Commerce, which is now headed by a separate U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Seven women have served as Secretary of Labor, which is more than any other cabinet position.

Thomas Perez is the current U.S. Secretary of Labor. He took office after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 23, 2013.

File:Flag of the United States Secretary of Labor 1915-1960.svg
The former flag of the U.S. Secretary of Labor, used from 1915 to 1960.

List of Secretaries of Labor

Parties

      Democratic       Republican

No. Portrait Name State of Residence Took Office Left Office President(s)
1 Wilson William B. Wilson Pennsylvania March 6, 1913 March 4, 1921 Woodrow Wilson
2 Davis James J. Davis Pennsylvania March 5, 1921 November 30, 1930 Warren G. Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Herbert Hoover
3 Doak William N. Doak Virginia December 9, 1930 March 4, 1933
4 Perkins Frances Perkins New York March 4, 1933 June 30, 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
5 Schwellenbach Lewis B. Schwellenbach Washington July 1, 1945 June 10, 1948
6 Tobin Maurice J. Tobin Massachusetts August 13, 1948 January 20, 1953
7 Durkin Martin P. Durkin Maryland January 21, 1953 September 10, 1953 Dwight D. Eisenhower
8 Mitchell James P. Mitchell New Jersey October 9, 1953 January 20, 1961
9 Goldberg Arthur J. Goldberg Illinois January 21, 1961 September 20, 1962 John F. Kennedy
10 Wirtz W. Willard Wirtz Illinois September 25, 1962 January 20, 1969
Lyndon B. Johnson
11 Shultz George P. Shultz Illinois January 22, 1969 July 1, 1970 Richard Nixon
12 Hodgson James D. Hodgson California July 2, 1970 February 1, 1973
13 Brennan Peter J. Brennan New York February 2, 1973 March 15, 1975
Gerald Ford
14 Dunlop John T. Dunlop Massachusetts March 18, 1975 January 31, 1976
15 Usery W. J. Usery Jr. Georgia February 10, 1976 January 20, 1977
16 Marshall F. Ray Marshall Texas January 27, 1977 January 20, 1981 Jimmy Carter
17 Donovan Raymond J. Donovan New Jersey February 4, 1981 March 15, 1985 Ronald Reagan
18 Brock William E. Brock Tennessee April 29, 1985 October 31, 1987
19 McLaughlin Ann Dore McLaughlin District of Columbia December 17, 1987 January 20, 1989
20 Dole Elizabeth H. Dole Kansas January 25, 1989 November 23, 1990 George H. W. Bush
21 Martin Lynn M. Martin Illinois February 22, 1991 January 20, 1993
22 Reich Robert Reich Massachusetts January 22, 1993 January 20, 1997 Bill Clinton
23 Herman Alexis M. Herman Alabama May 1, 1997 January 20, 2001
24 Chao Elaine L. Chao Kentucky January 29, 2001 January 20, 2009 George W. Bush
25 Solis Hilda L. Solis California February 24, 2009 January 22, 2013 Barack Obama
26 Perez Thomas Perez Maryland July 23, 2013 present

Living former Secretaries of Labor

As of March 2024, there are twelve living former Secretaries of Labor, the oldest being George P. Shultz (1969–1970, born 1920). The most recent Secretary of Labor to pass away was James D. Hodgson (1970–1973), on November 28, 2012.

Name Term of office Date of birth (and age)
George P. Shultz 1969–1970 (1920-12-13) December 13, 1920 (age 103)
William Usery, Jr. 1976–1977 (1923-12-21) December 21, 1923 (age 100)
Ray Marshall 1977–1981 (1928-08-22) August 22, 1928 (age 95)
Raymond J. Donovan 1981–1985 (1930-08-31) August 31, 1930 (age 93)
Bill Brock 1985–1987 (1930-11-23) November 23, 1930 (age 93)
Ann Dore McLaughlin 1987–1989 (1941-11-16) November 16, 1941 (age 82)
Elizabeth H. Dole 1989–1990 (1936-07-29) July 29, 1936 (age 87)
Lynn Morley Martin 1991–1993 (1939-12-26) December 26, 1939 (age 84)
Robert Reich 1993–1997 (1946-06-24) June 24, 1946 (age 77)
Alexis Herman 1997–2001 (1947-07-16) July 16, 1947 (age 76)
Elaine Chao 2001–2009 (1953-03-26) March 26, 1953 (age 70)
Hilda Solis 2009–2013 (1957-10-20) October 20, 1957 (age 66)

See also

References

External links

United States presidential line of succession
Preceded by 11th in line Succeeded by
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Sylvia Mathews Burwell