  patricia roberts harris (may 31, 1924march 23, 1985) served in the american administration of president jimmy carter as united states secretary of housing and urban development, and united states secretary of health, education, and welfare (which was renamed the secretary of health and human services during her tenure). she was the first african american woman to serve in the united states cabinet, and the first to enter the line of succession to the presidency. she previously served as united states ambassador to luxembourg under president lyndon b. johnson, and was the first african-american woman to represent the united states as an ambassador. ==early life and career== roberts was born on may 31, 1924, in mattoon, illinois, the d
1924_births 1985_deaths African-American_members_of_the_Cabinet_of_the_United_States African-American_women_in_politics Ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Luxembourg American_women_lawyers Burials_at_Rock_Creek_Cemetery Carter_administration_cabinet_members Deaths_from_breast_cancer Delta_Sigma_Theta_members Female_diplomats George_Washington_University_Law_School_alumni George_Washington_University_alumni Howard_University_alumni IBM_employees Illinois_Democrats People_from_Mattoon,_Illinois People_from_Washington,_D.C. United_States_Secretaries_of_Health,_Education,_and_Welfare United_States_Secretaries_of_Health_and_Human_Services United_States_Secretaries_of_Housing_and_Urban_Development Women_in_Illinois_politics Women_members_of_the_Cabinet_of_the_United_States