Coolidge surprised many observers by announcing that he would not seek another term in August 1927 . The decision left Hoover as the presumed front-runner for the 1928 presidential election , but many conservatives within the party opposed Hoover 's candidacy . The conservative resistance to Hoover centered around Mellon , who controlled Pennsylvania 's delegation at the 1928 Republican National Convention and was influential with Republicans throughout the country . Though they had maintained an amicable relationship in public , Mellon privately distrusted Hoover , resented Hoover 's engagement in the affairs of other cabinet departments , and feared that a President Hoover would move away from Mellon 's tax policies . Several Republicans urged Mellon to run for president , but Mellon believed that he was too old to seek the presidency . Mellon attempted to convince Coolidge or Charles Evans Hughes to run , but neither heeded his appeals . In the months before the 1928 Republican Convention , Mellon maintained his neutrality in the presidential race , but with no compelling alternative Republican candidate willing to run , Mellon finally threw his support behind Hoover . With Mellon 's backing , Hoover won the Republican nomination on the first ballot of the convention , and he went on to defeat Al Smith in the 1928 presidential election . Defying widespread expectations that he would retire , Mellon chose to stay on as Secretary of the Treasury . Along with Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson and Secretary of Labor James J. Davis , Mellon is one of only three cabinet members to serve in the same post under three consecutive presidents
1928 Republican National Convention
1928 Republican National Convention
Andrew Mellon