Hearing no word from the president-elect for three weeks after the election, Blaine wrote to his political ally, Whitelaw Reid, editor of the New York Tribune, expressing “real curiosity to find out … whether Harrison or his advisors think that the constantly augmented support I have had since 1876 [when he first ran for president] is worth consulting in the organization of the Administration.”  By early December, Blaine directed Reid to plant positive comments in the Tribune to enhance his prospects for the cabinet.  It was not until January 17, 1889, that Harrison finally asked Blaine to serve as secretary of state.  In his letter, the president-elect made it clear that he expected all of the cabinet officers to “cooperate … [in] preserving harmony in the party.” 

Reid was named the U.S. minister to France, but no Blaine supporter was appointed to the original cabinet.  In forming his administration, Harrison treated other national leaders of the Republican Party as cavalierly as he had Blaine, engendering deep-seated resentment.  The common characteristic of the other cabinet appointees was their membership in the Presbyterian Church, the religion practiced by the president-elect.  Several cabinet officers also shared Harrison’s background as an Ohio-born lawyer who was brevetted at the rank of brigadier general for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. 

Thomas C. Platt believed that he should be appointed secretary of the treasury for moving New York’s Republican delegation behind Harrison at the Republican National Convention.  Warner Miller, who had replaced Platt in the U.S. Senate, expected the same appointment.  Wharton Barker, a Philadelphia banker who had been the first prominent Republican to back Harrison’s candidacy, also wanted the treasury post.  New Yorkers Platt and Miller cancelled each other out, and Barker was opposed by Senator Matthew Quay, the chairman of the Republican National Committee who feared creating a rival to his political machine in Pennsylvania.  Harrison selected Senator William Allison of Iowa, a respected expert in monetary policy, but he declined the offer.  The president-elect then turned to William Windom, a former senator from Minnesota, who resided in Manhattan and had served briefly as treasury secretary (March-November 1881) under Presidents James Garfield and Chester Arthur.  The Windom appointment angered Platt, Miller, and Barker.

For postmaster general, Harrison rewarded John Wanamaker, the innovative owner of a department-store chain who had raised a record amount of money for the national Republican Party during the 1888 campaign.  The appointment of the Pennsylvania businessman further alienated Barker and upset Quay, as well.  Wanamaker, though, proved to be as visionary in public service as he was in private enterprise, promoting parcel post service, a postal savings bank, and rural free delivery, all of which were adopted by later administrations.  As secretary of agriculture, Harrison chose Governor Jeremiah Rusk of Wisconsin, to the disappointment of his younger rival, Henry Payne, chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party.

Harrison’s other cabinet appointments provoked far less controversy within the Republican Party, although they did not initially receive a favorable response in the press.  John W. Noble of Missouri was named as interior secretary.  In office, he encouraged Congress to grant presidents the authority to protect timberlands by presidential proclamation, and President Harrison designated 13 million acres as forest reserves.  To fill New York’s seat in the cabinet, Harrison named Benjamin Franklin Tracy, a law partner of Platt’s son, as secretary of the navy.  Tracy continued the efforts of his predecessor, William Whitney, to expand and modernize the U.S. Navy.