Appointer Board of Governors Inaugural holder Benjamin Franklin Deputy Ronald A. Stroman | Term length Indefinite Formation 1775 Salary $276,840 | |
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The Postmaster General of the United States is the chief executive officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin was appointed by the Continental Congress as the first Postmaster General in 1775, serving just over 15 months.
Until 1971, the postmaster general was the head of the Post Office Department (or simply "Post Office" until the 1820s). From 1829 to 1971, he was a member of the President's Cabinet.
The Cabinet post of Postmaster General was often given to a new President's campaign manager or other key political supporter, and was considered something of a sinecure. The Postmaster General was in charge of the governing party's patronage, and was a powerful position which held much influence within the party.
In 1971, the Post Office Department was re-organized into the United States Postal Service, an independent agency of the executive branch. Therefore, the Postmaster General is no longer a member of the Cabinet and is no longer in Presidential succession.
The Postmaster General is the second-highest paid U.S. government official, based on publicly available salary information, after the President of the United States.
Living former Postmasters General
As of July 2016, there are seven living former Postmasters General, the oldest being W. Marvin Watson (1968–1969, born 1924). The most recent Postmaster General to die was Preston Robert Tisch (1986–1988), on November 15, 2005.