Social Security History

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.

Paul McNutt

Watson Miller

Oscar Ewing

Oveta Culp-Hobby

Marion Folsom

Arthur Flemming

Abraham Ribicoff

Anthony Celebrezze

John Gardner

Wilbur Cohen

Robert Finch

Elliot Richardson

Caspar Weinberger

David Mathews

Joe Califano

Patricia Harris

 Richard Schweiker

Margaret Heckler 

Otis Bowen

Louis Sullivan

Donna Shalala