History of the Treasury

Secretaries of the Treasury

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John Snow

Feburary 3, 2003 to June 29th 2006
Under President George W. Bush

Official Portrait in process

President George W. Bush nominated John William Snow to be the 73rd Secretary of the Treasury on January 13, 2003 .  The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Snow to the position on January 30, 2003 and he was sworn into office on February 3, 2003 . As Secretary of the Treasury, Snow worked closely with President Bush on a broad array of economy policy issues.

Before coming to Treasury, Snow was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSX Corporation, where he successfully guided the global transportation company through a period of tremendous change.  During Snow’s twenty years at CSX, he led the Corporation to refocus on its core railroad business, dramatically reduce injuries and train accidents, and improve its financial performance.

Snow’s previous public service included having served at the Department of Transportation as Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Deputy Under Secretary, Assistant Secretary for the Governmental Affairs, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Plans and International Affairs. Snow served as Chairman of the Business Roundtable, the foremost business policy group comprised of 250 chief executive officers of the Nation's largest companies.  During his tenure as Chairman from 1994 through 1996, he played a major role in supporting passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and working on the deficit reduction agreement. 

Snow was also recognized as a leading champion of improved corporate governance practices.  He was a former co-chairman of the influential Conference Board's Blue-Ribbon Commission on Public Trust and Private Enterprise.  He also served as Co-Chairman of the National Commission on Financial Institution Reform, Recovery and Enforcement in 1992 that made recommendations following the Savings and Loan crisis.