The Under Secretary of State, from 1919 to 1972, was the second-ranking official at the United States Department of State (immediately beneath the United States Secretary of State), serving as the Secretary's principal deputy, chief assistant, and Acting Secretary in the event of the Secretary's absence. Prior second-ranking positions had been the Chief Clerk, the Assistant Secretary of State, and the Counselor. Prior to 1944, a number of offices in the Department reported directly to the Under Secretary. In July 1972, the position of Deputy Secretary superseded that of Under Secretary of State.
In modern times, Under Secretaries of State rank above the Assistant Secretaries of State and below the Deputy Secretaries of State. The Counselor of the United States Department of State, who advises the Secretary of State, holds a rank equivalent to Under Secretary.
The following is a list of current offices bearing the title of "Under Secretary of State":
- Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
- Under Secretary of State for Management
- Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs
- Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
- Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs
- Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs
Read more about Under Secretary Of State: Under Secretaries of State, 1919–1972
Famous quotes containing the words secretary of state, secretary and/or state:
“The truth is, the whole administration under Roosevelt was demoralized by the system of dealing directly with subordinates. It was obviated in the State Department and the War Department under [Secretary of State Elihu] Root and me [Taft was the Secretary of War], because we simply ignored the interference and went on as we chose.... The subordinates gained nothing by his assumption of authority, but it was not so in the other departments.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“The truth is, the whole administration under Roosevelt was demoralized by the system of dealing directly with subordinates. It was obviated in the State Department and the War Department under [Secretary of State Elihu] Root and me [Taft was the Secretary of War], because we simply ignored the interference and went on as we chose.... The subordinates gained nothing by his assumption of authority, but it was not so in the other departments.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“till disproportion’d sin
Jarr’d against natures chime, and with harsh din
Broke the fair musick that all creatures made
To their great Lord, whose love their motion sway’d
In perfect Diapason, whilst they stood
In first obedience, and their state of good.”
—John Milton (1608–1674)