Publisher's Synopsis
This book provides a single source of biographical information for the thousands of individuals who have held high elective and appointive offices in the United States federal, state, and municipal governments since independence in 1776. The first half of the book lists positions in the government with a chronological record of the individuals who have held the positions and the duration of their terms of office. The section opens with the executive branch, starting with the president. This is followed by a listing of first ladies and families of the president, vice presidents and the cabinet, deputy and undersecretaries of cabinet departments, directors and administrators of high government agencies, individuals serving in high-ranking military positions, members of the diplomatic corps who have served as ambassador to nations throughout the world and high-ranking presidential staff and White House aides. The next section consists of the judiciary, beginning with the chief justice of the United States and members of the Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, and U.S. District Courts. The legislative branch follows with a listing of congressional leadership, including presidents of the Continental Congresses, speakers of the House of Representatives, president pro tempores of the Senate, and majority and minority leadership in both houses of Congress, members of Congress, territorial delegates, resident commissioners, governors and lieutenant governors. The final section is a listing of mayors of 200 major cities. The second half of the book is a biographical index of individuals found in the earlier sections listed in alphabetical order. The entries contain dates of birth and death, when known, political party or affiliation, state or states of significance to the officeholder, and listing of offices held.
