Question

Why was Washington’s cabinet so varied?

Answer 1

The President’s Cabinet is an institution whose existence rests upon custom 
rather than law. President George Washington found the Cabinet concept, a meeting 
of departmental secretaries, to be useful, and all subsequent Presidents have followed 
this precedent. Presidents have differed in their opinions as to the utility of the 
Cabinet, but all have found some political and administrative strengths in its 
continuance.