Secretary of State used to be the grooming job for the "annointed" next POTUS [View All]

[Recursion]

When did that stop?

Washington's (extremely shrewd) choice of Jefferson as Secretary of State was, even back then, decried as his picking a "favorite Republican" (in today's language, "favorite Democrat"). Madison and Monroe both came up to Presidential status as Secretaries of State.

But by Seward's time (he's up there with Marshall among the truly great Secretaries of State, in my opinion) it was a bureaucratic/wonkish position -- I don't know that anyone ever seriously considered Seward as Presidential material. In fact, it's only connection with Presidential candidates since then has been as a consolation prize (eg W. J. Bryant, and frankly H. R. Clinton). For that matter, Mrs. Clinton as far as I can see is the first SoS in a long time with a vibrant elected political career.

I ran an analysis during the primaries of previous jobs of persons elected President, interestingly Secretary of State is still #1. What changed? Or are we moving back to SoS being a President's nod towards an unofficially designated successor?