Garrett A. Hobart was the fifth Vice-President of the United States to die during his term of office. The others were Elbridge Gerry, William Rufus King, Henry Wilson, and Thomas A. Hendricks. Gerry was one of the great statesmen of the revolutionary period and hailed from Massachusetts. He was Vice-President in 1812, and died November 23, 1814, while on the way to the capital.
Charles Warren Fairbanks, a Republican from Indianapolis, Ind., became Vice-President March 4, 1905, at the beginning of Mr. Roosevelt's second term. Mr. Fairbanks never held public office prior to his election to the Senate in 1897, which place he held until he resigned to take the oath of Vice-President.
Mr. Fairbank's influence in the City of Washington will long be remembered as one of the pleasant memories of the Capital. At church functions, at philanthropic or patriotic conventions, Vice-President Fairbanks found time in his overcrowded life to preside. In social life Mrs. Fairbanks was the idol of the D. A. R. women. Her hospitable home was ever open for receptions, fetes and parties, and not in this generation will Washington see a family so universally beloved and so universally regretted.
James Schoolcraft Sherman, Republican of Utica, N. Y., took the oath of office as Vice-President, March 4, 1909. He had been a member of Congress for twenty years, and ranked as one of the five leading members of the House of Representatives. His ability as a presiding officer is recognized in both branches of Congress. The Cabinet called together by President Taft is composed largely of new men at Washington.
Mr. Philander Chase Knox, of Pennsylvania, takes up the duties of the State Department so ably filled by John Hay, Elihu Root, and Mr. Taft, with large knowledge of state affairs.
Mr. Franklin McVeagh, of Chicago, an able business man, takes charge of the Treasury Department at a time when there is a deficiency in the Treasury, and with a new tariff law to enforce.
Mr. Jacob McGavock Dickinson, like Mr. McVeagh, is a Democrat from Chicago. As Secretary of War he will need all his great acumen in managing the affairs of the nation from the Panama Zone to the Philippine Islands.
Mr. George Woodward Wickersham, of New York, as Attorney-General is a lawyer of high personal and professional qualifications.
Mr. George von Lengerke Meyer was transferred by President Taft from the Post-office Department, whose service he greatly improved, to the Secretaryship of the Navy.
Mr. Frank Harris Hitchcock, the new Postmaster-General, has had long experience in postal affairs.