Lawrence Henry Summers (born November 30, 1954) is an American economist and politician. He was the 71st United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001. He also was the director of the National Economic Council from 2009 to 2010.
Summers was the president of Harvard University from 2001 to 2006.
In November 2023, Summers joined the board of directors of artificial general intelligence company OpenAI. He resigned in November 2025 after it was revealed that Summers had a close friendship with child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Stanley Fischer |
Chief Economist of the World Bank 1991–1993 |
Succeeded by Michael Bruno |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by David Mulford |
Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs 1993–1995 |
Succeeded by Michael Bruno |
| Preceded by Frank Newman |
United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury 1995–1999 |
Succeeded by Stu Eizenstat |
| Preceded by Bob Rubin |
United States Secretary of the Treasury 1999–2001 |
Succeeded by Paul O'Neill |
| Preceded by Keith Hennessey |
Director of the National Economic Council 2009–2011 |
Succeeded by Gene Sperling |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Neil Rudenstine |
President of Harvard University 2001–2006 |
Succeeded by Derek Bok |
| Order of Precedence of the United States of America | ||
| Preceded by Rodney E. Slater as Former US Cabinet Member |
Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Cabinet Member |
Succeeded by Ann Veneman as Former US Cabinet Member |