He spent the months following the election formulating his cabinet selections. He was deliberate and quiet about his decisions, to the frustration of his fellow Whigs. While he despised patronage and political games, he endured a flurry of advances from office-seekers looking to play a role in his administration.[99]
While he would appoint no Democrats, Taylor wanted his cabinet to reflect the nation's diverse interests, and so apportioned the seats geographically. He also avoided choosing prominent Whigs, sidestepping such obvious selections as Clay. He saw Crittenden as a cornerstone of his administration, offering him the crucial seat of Secretary of State, but Crittenden insisted on serving out the governorship of Kentucky to which he had just been elected. Taylor settled on Senator John M. Clayton of Delaware, a close associate of Crittenden's.[99]

The Taylor cabinetOfficeNameTermPresidentZachary Taylor1849–1850Vice PresidentMillard Fillmore1849–1850Secretary of StateJohn M. Clayton1849–1850Secretary of the TreasuryWilliam M. Meredith1849–1850Secretary of WarGeorge W. Crawford1849–1850Attorney GeneralReverdy Johnson1849–1850Postmaster GeneralJacob Collamer1849–1850Secretary of the NavyWilliam Ballard Preston1849–1850Secretary of the InteriorThomas Ewing1849–1850
With Clayton's aid, Taylor chose the six remaining members of his cabinet. 