Presidential Cabinet 
On April 30, 1789, George Washington took office as the first President of the United States. Serving under Washington as Vice President was John Adams. As President, Washington immediately set about selecting his Cabinet. The President’s Cabinet is a group of federal leaders that not only head up various departments, but serve as advisors to the President, regarding a variety of topics including economic and military matters.
Edmund Randolph of Virginia was selected to serve as Attorney General, or the nation’s chief law officer/legal advisor. Henry Knox was asked to continue serving as Secretary of War. Knox had been serving in this position since the inception of the Articles of Confederation. Two of Washington’s most important appointments were selecting Thomas Jefferson to serve as Secretary of State and selecting Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury.
As Secretary of State, Jefferson dealt with all of the nation’s foreign relations. Aside from writing the Constitution, Jefferson had previously served as ambassador to France. The position suited Jefferson. A former lawyer, he was well educated with a diverse background and interest in music and architecture. This was a significant position, since France had been one of the nation’s closest allies during the war, and it was crucial to maintain this relationship.