The first Cabinet nominee to be rejected by the U.S. Senate was Roger B. Taney, nominated by President Andrew Jackson to serve as Secretary of the Treasury in 1834.
Roger B. Taney:
Taney had been a close ally of President Jackson and served as the acting Secretary of the Treasury in 1833.
He supported Jackson's controversial decision to remove federal deposits from the Second Bank of the United States, which sparked fierce political opposition.
The Controversy:
Jackson's decision to dismantle the Bank of the United States was highly polarizing, and Taney's role in removing federal funds made him a target of critics, particularly in the Senate.
The Senate, led by Jackson's opponents, including members of the Whig Party like Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, viewed Taney as complicit in what they considered an abuse of presidential power.
The Rejection
In 1834, Jackson formally nominated Taney to permanently serve as Secretary of the Treasury.
The Senate, controlled by Jackson's political opponents, rejected the nomination, making Taney the first Cabinet nominee in U.S. history to be denied confirmation.
Aftermath
Supreme Court Appointment:
Despite his rejection, Taney remained a trusted advisor to Jackson. In 1836, after the death of John Marshall, Jackson nominated Taney to serve as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
This time, Taney was confirmed by a closely divided Senate, and he served as Chief Justice until he died in 1864.
