The office of the United States Postmaster General, in one aspect or another is older than both the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence. This position is believed to be one of luxury in that the individual who holds this position has little physical requirements.

The Founder of the U.S. Post Office

The first person to hold the position of postmaster general and who is known as the founder of the post office, the first library, and the first volunteer fire department was Benjamin Franklin. Franklin received his assignment to this post from the Continental Congress. He held this assignment for just over fifteen months. Until the early 1970s the Post Master General was the director of the Post Office and as such had a powerful influence over benefactors.

United States Postmaster General Appointment

Historically, a postmaster general was chosen from within a new President’s campaign party membership. During the early days of the post office, a Postmaster General had the responsibility of managing the ruling party’s support and enjoyed a very influential position which held great persuasion within the party. For instance, Mr. James Farley made use of his position as Postmaster General to give rewards to party loyalists in congress during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policy initiative. It was Mr. Farley’s belief that those who had supported Mr. Roosevelt’s campaign should be compensated for their loyalty and political backing, never mind the fact that these supporters were; except for a few, hand-picked by Mr. Farley himself. Or that this screening of Roosevelt supporters was conducted even before the President himself had the chance to agree to the assignments due to the power the position of Postmaster General.

Our Present U.S. Postal Service Department

The early 1970’s brought about the revamping of the Post Office Department which became known as the United States Postal Service, a special agency which was no longer influenced by the executive branch. This revamping of the Post Office voided the United States Postmaster General membership of the Cabinet as well as being in the Presidential procession.

Through the years, changes to the Post Office have occurred. Initially the post office was a division of sorts of the Continental Congress and was directly under the position of the U.S. Presidency and controlled by the executive branch. Now however, the United States Postal Service and is an entity within itself, no longer under the control of the executive branch; yet much like previous decades the Postmaster General position remains greatly sought after and promises the fortunate designated individual a very comfortable salary.