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.

The ability for individuals to directly vote for U.S. Senators was established by the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified on April 8, 1913.

Before the 17th Amendment:

- State Legislatures' Role: Prior to the 17th Amendment, U.S. Senators were elected by state legislatures, not by the general public. This process was outlined in Article I, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution.

After the 17th Amendment:

- Direct Election: The 17th Amendment changed the process so that Senators would be directly elected by the people of each state. This shift was made to make the Senate more responsive to the public and to reduce corruption and political manipulation that had occurred under the legislative election system.

Since 1913, U.S. citizens in each state have had the right to vote directly for their Senators.