The
Secretary of War was a member of the
President's Cabinet since Washington's administration. At first, he was responsible for all military affairs. In
1798, the
Secretary of the Navy was added to the cabinet, and the scope of this office was reduced to a general concern with the Army. In
1947, the departments were recombined under the
Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of War was replaced by the
Secretary of the Army[?], a non-Cabinet position under the
Secretary of Defense.
The Secretaries of War