Cabinet Officers

From 1939 until March 1995 SSA was a sub-cabinet agency within two separate cabinet-level and one sub-cabinet level organizations (see "SSA Organizational History"). These organizations were:

  • Federal Security Agency (FSA): 1939-1953 (a sub-cabinet organization)
  • Department of Health, Education & Welfare (HEW): 1953-1980 (cabinet-level)
  • Department of Health & Human Services (HHS): 1980-1995 (cabinet-level)

    The "thumbnail" images below depict the various cabinet officials who headed these agencies. Click on the thumbnail to see larger image and a detailed bio.


    mcnutt

    Paul McNutt

    miller

    Watson Miller

    ewing

    Oscar Ewing

    hobby

    Oveta Culp-Hobby
    April 11, 1953 - July 31, 1955

    folsom

    Marion Folsom
    August 1, 1955 - July 31, 1958

    flemming

    Arthur Flemming
    August 1, 1958 - January 19, 1961

    ribicoff

    Abraham Ribicoff
    January 21, 1961 - July 13, 1962

    celebrezze

    Anthony Celebrezze
    July 31, 1962 - August 17, 1965

    gardner

    John Gardner
    August 18, 1965 - March 1, 1968

    cohen

    Wilbur Cohen
    May 16, 1968 - January 20, 1969

    finch

    Robert Finch
    January 21, 1969 - June 23, 1970

    richardson

    Elliot Richardson
    June 24, 1970 - January 29, 1973

    weinberger

    Caspar Weinberger
    February 12, 1973 - August 8, 1975

    mathews

    David Mathews
    August 8, 1975 - January 20, 1977

    califano

    Joe Califano
    January 25, 1977 - August 3, 1979

    harris

    Patricia Harris
    August 3, 1979 - January 20, 1981

    schweiker

     Richard Schweiker
    January 22, 1981 - February 3, 1983

    heckler

    Margaret Heckler 
    March 9, 1983 - December 13, 1985

    bowen

    Otis Bowen
    December 13, 1985 - January 20, 1989

    sullivan

    Louis Sullivan
    March 1, 1989 - January 20, 1993

    shalala

    Donna Shalala
    January 22, 1993 - January 20, 2001