who did not have a department at the time, but was basically the government's lawyer who was edmond randolph when did they first meet and why? >> the secretaries met as a group for the first time in april 1791. president george washington was leaving the capitol at the time, which was philadelphia. and he was going on a tour of the southern states this was the first tour he done and he was planning to be gone for a couple of months and he knew that there was a possibility that something might come up that would need an immediate response and he may not be able to give an immediate answer becauses the post took a really long time at that point. >>> so, he gave them the power to meet as a group, if an issue came up, and to then send his, their decision to him, and he would basically ratify the decision. and that happened in april 1791. >> what precedent did washington set? >> he set so many precedents as president, he established the title of president. he established how to nominate a supreme court justices, but in terms of the cabinet, that is one of the most important precedents, we obvious