WASHINGTON —
A major decision for a newly elected president is who will fill key Cabinet positions. With Donald Trump a week into his planning for taking over the White House January 20, here is a look at when his predecessors announced their picks for the most high profile posts.
Barack Obama
Election held November 4, 2008
- Secretary of State: Hillary Clinton, December 1
- Treasury Secretary: Timothy Geithner, November 24
- Defense Secretary: Robert Gates, December 1
- Attorney General: Eric Holder, December 1
George W. Bush
Election held November 7, 2000 (declared winner after December 12 Supreme Court ruling)
- Secretary of State: Colin Powell, December 16
- Treasury Secretary: Paul O’Neill, December 20
- Defense Secretary: Donald Rumsfeld, December 28
- Attorney General: John Ashcroft, December 22
Bill Clinton
Election held November 3, 1992
- Secretary of State: Warren Christopher, December 22
- Treasury Secretary: Lloyd Bentsen, December 10
- Defense Secretary: Les Aspin, December 22
- Attorney General: Zoe Baird*, December 24
George H.W. Bush
Election held November 8, 1988
- Secretary of State: James Baker, November 9
- Treasury Secretary: Nicholas Brady, November 15
- Defense Secretary: John Tower**, December 16
- Attorney General: Richard Thornburgh, November 21
Ronald Reagan
Election date November 4, 1980
- Secretary of State: Alexander Haig, December 16
- Treasury Secretary: Donald Regan, December 11
- Defense Secretary: Caspar Weinberger, December 11
- Attorney General: William French Smith, December 11
Jimmy Carter
Election held November 2, 1976
- Secretary of State: Cyrus Vance, December 3
- Treasury Secretary: W. Michael Blumenthal, December 14
- Defense Secretary: Harold Brown, December 21
- Attorney General: Griffin Bell, December 20
*nomination withdrawn before Senate confirmation
**rejected by Senate
