Samuel Pierce Jr.

Samuel Pierce Jr. was the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989. He is notable for being the first African American to hold this position and played a significant role in shaping housing policy during a period of economic transformation in the United States. Pierce was designated as the 'designated survivor' during the 1984 State of the Union address, a practice that ensures continuity of government in case of a catastrophe.