After the election , Wilson quickly chose William Jennings Bryan as Secretary of State , and Bryan offered advice on the remaining members of Wilson 's cabinet . William Gibbs McAdoo , a prominent Wilson supporter who would marry Wilson 's daughter in 1914 , became Secretary of the Treasury , while James Clark McReynolds , who had successfully prosecuted prominent anti-trust cases , was chosen as Attorney General . On the advice of Underwood , Wilson appointed Texas Congressman Albert S. Burleson as Postmaster General . Bryan resigned in 1915 due to his opposition to Wilson hard line 's towards Germany in the aftermath of the Sinking of the RMS Lusitania . Bryan was replaced by Robert Lansing , and Wilson took more direct control of his administration 's foreign policy after Bryan 's departure . Newton D. Baker , a progressive Democrat , became Secretary of War in 1916 , and Baker led the War Department during World War I. Wilson 's cabinet experienced turnover after the conclusion of World War I , with Carter Glass replacing McAdoo as Secretary of the Treasury and A. Mitchell Palmer becoming Attorney General
Sinking of the RMS Lusitania
Sinking of the RMS Lusitania
Presidency of Woodrow Wilson