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
April 11, 1953 - July 31, 1955

Marion Folsom
August 1, 1955 - July 31, 1958

Arthur Flemming
August 1, 1958 - January 19, 1961

Abraham Ribicoff
January 21, 1961 - July 13, 1962

Anthony Celebrezze
July 31, 1962 - August 17, 1965

John Gardner
August 18, 1965 - March 1, 1968

Wilbur Cohen
May 16, 1968 - January 20, 1969

Robert Finch
January 21, 1969 - June 23, 1970

Elliot Richardson
June 24, 1970 - January 29, 1973

Caspar Weinberger
February 12, 1973 - August 8, 1975

David Mathews
August 8, 1975 - January 20, 1977

Joe Califano
January 25, 1977 - August 3, 1979

Patricia Harris
August 3, 1979 - January 20, 1981

 Richard Schweiker
January 22, 1981 - February 3, 1983

Margaret Heckler 
March 9, 1983 - December 13, 1985

Otis Bowen
December 13, 1985 - January 20, 1989

Louis Sullivan
March 1, 1989 - January 20, 1993

Donna Shalala
January 22, 1993 - January 20, 2001