The Commerce Secretary Curse--PICTURES

In July 1987, President Reagan's Commerce secretary, Malcolm Baldrige (far left), died in a rodeo accident when the horse he was riding fell on him. Baldrige, who was 64, had served as secretary for six years. (AP Photo)

In February 1995, after urging from 14 Republican senators, President Clinton's Justice Deoartment opened an investigation into Commerce Secretary Ron Brown's personal financial dealings. However, in the early stages of the investigation, Brown died in a plane crash in April 1996. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

President Obama nominated New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to the top post in the department in December 2008. But Richardson withdrew his nomination just one month later, following the opening of a grand jury investigation into his dealings with a political donor.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

In early 2009, President Obama nominated Republican Senator Judd Gregg to be Commerce secretary. However, less than two weeks later, Gregg withdrew his nomination, citing “irresolvable conflicts” with the administration.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

John Bryson, who succeeded Gary Locke as Commerce Secretary after Locke was named ambassador to China, was cited in a hit-and-run felony in Southern California on June 9, 2012. A seizure was blamed for the accident, and prompted Bryson's resignation on June, 21. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade,File)

Who'll be next? The Obama administration proposed virtually eliminating the department in January, 2012, but that hasn't panned out. For a possible second-term appointment, look to Ron Kirk and others. (Shutterstock)