Book excerpt: This book "contains career biographies of all cabinet heads, as well as of presidents, vice-presidents, and presidents of the Continental Congress. Only those individuals confirmed in office by the Senate have been included; acting cabinet officials -- of whom there were many, especially in the nineteenth century -- have been omitted since almost all served for very short periods of time. Each biography includes the most significant dates in the subject's life, family and other personal information, religious affiliation where available, service prior to and after cabinet duty, and place of death and interment. In addition, each biography contains a short bibliographic reference to important primary and secondary works to be consulted for additional information"--Preface.