Despite the fact that today’s cabinet is quite large at 16 members, the original cabinet, made by president Washington, had a mere 4 members. His intention was for it to give advice to the president on each of the executive departments. It contains the heads of all of the executive departments and the vice president. In other words, they were personal advisors to the president. Under Washington’s presidency, only 3 departments were made; the department of state, treasury, and war. For each of these departments, Washington selected ahead. The secretary of war: Henry Knox, the secretary of state: Thomas Jeffersons, the secretary of treasury: Alexander Hamilton. Edmund Randolph was another member known as the attorney general.