<Ul> <Li> Téa Leoni as Elizabeth "Bess" Adams McCord, the United States Secretary of State . She spent twenty years as a CIA analyst before becoming a professor of political science at the University of Virginia . She was selected by her old boss, Conrad Dalton, who is now the President of the United States, to replace Secretary of State Vincent Marsh, who died in a plane crash . </Li> <Li> Tim Daly as Henry McCord, Elizabeth's husband of 25 years . A former Marine captain / aviator during Operation Desert Storm and theology professor, his unique blend of skills are sought by the National Security Agency, which engages him as an operative in combating religious extremism . At the end of season 3, Henry is named the head of the CIA Special Activities Division . </Li> <Li> Bebe Neuwirth as Nadine Tolliver (seasons 1--4), Elizabeth's chief of staff who had a six - year affair with the deceased Secretary of State, Vincent Marsh, beginning when he was a senator . Originally suspicious and resentful of the new Secretary of State, Nadine soon learns to trust Elizabeth, and the two cultivate a strong working relationship . In season 1, Nadine slowly began to date again, romancing the Administrator of NASA, Glenn, and later fell into a relationship with the recurring political consultant Mike Barnow . In season 4, Nadine leaves the State Department to spend more time with her family . </Li> <Li> Željko Ivanek as Russell Jackson, White House Chief of Staff . His primary objective of keeping the President politically secure at home and abroad sets him up for occasional confrontations with Secretary McCord's unorthodox diplomatic maneuvering . </Li> <Li> Erich Bergen as Blake Moran, Elizabeth's personal assistant, and the only member of her staff that she hired rather than inherited . </Li> <Li> Patina Miller as Daisy Grant, Elizabeth's press coordinator . Daisy dates Matt during season 1 but goes on to date other men following their breakup . In season 3 she dates "Kevin" from Budget and Planning, who turns out to be an undercover operative for the CIA investigating the State Department . He is killed in a weapons - trafficking conspiracy, and Daisy subsequently finds herself pregnant with his child . In the fourth season, Daisy gives birth to a daughter Joanna Grant . </Li> <Li> Geoffrey Arend as Matt Mahoney, Elizabeth's speechwriter . Matt and Daisy dated during season 1, but ended things . </Li> <Li> Wallis Currie - Wood as Stephanie "Stevie" McCord, Elizabeth and Henry's older daughter . Stevie attended Lovell University and later Georgetown University and applied to Harvard Law school . Stevie serves as an intern to Russell Jackson and was, for a time, engaged to Jareth Glover . She has an affair with Dmitri Petrov (then undercover) in season 4 that puts her in danger . </Li> <Li> Kathrine Herzer as Alison McCord, Elizabeth and Henry's younger daughter . Alison planned to attend Rafferty College to pursue her dreams of fashion and design, but later changed her mind . </Li> <Li> Evan Roe as Jason McCord, Elizabeth and Henry's teenage son, a self - proclaimed anarchist . Jason is critical of political systems in general, but in season 1 he was expelled from his school for punching a student who insulted Elizabeth . </Li> <Li> Keith Carradine as Conrad Dalton (seasons 2--present; recurring season 1), the President of the United States . Conrad served in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant during the Vietnam War and was the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency during Elizabeth's time at the CIA . In the third season, Dalton secures reelection as an independent after failing to secure his party's nomination, partly due to a controversial change in policy championed by Elizabeth . He offers Elizabeth the role of Vice President during his campaign, but eventually names someone else in order to further his campaign . Elizabeth remains Secretary of State . </Li> <Li> Sebastian Arcelus as Jay Whitman, Elizabeth's current chief of staff and previous senior policy advisor (seasons 3--present; recurring seasons 1--2). In season 3, it is revealed that Jay's busy schedule working for the Secretary has strained his marriage . He is currently separated from his wife Abby, who maintains custody of their daughter Chloe . Jay is promoted to chief of staff in season 4 . </Li> <Li> Sara Ramirez as Kat Sandoval, Elizabeth's Policy Advisor and a former Chief of Staff to the UN Ambassador (season 4 and 5) </Li> </Ul> <Li> Téa Leoni as Elizabeth "Bess" Adams McCord, the United States Secretary of State . She spent twenty years as a CIA analyst before becoming a professor of political science at the University of Virginia . She was selected by her old boss, Conrad Dalton, who is now the President of the United States, to replace Secretary of State Vincent Marsh, who died in a plane crash . </Li> <Li> Tim Daly as Henry McCord, Elizabeth's husband of 25 years . A former Marine captain / aviator during Operation Desert Storm and theology professor, his unique blend of skills are sought by the National Security Agency, which engages him as an operative in combating religious extremism . At the end of season 3, Henry is named the head of the CIA Special Activities Division . </Li> <Li> Bebe Neuwirth as Nadine Tolliver (seasons 1--4), Elizabeth's chief of staff who had a six - year affair with the deceased Secretary of State, Vincent Marsh, beginning when he was a senator . Originally suspicious and resentful of the new Secretary of State, Nadine soon learns to trust Elizabeth, and the two cultivate a strong working relationship . In season 1, Nadine slowly began to date again, romancing the Administrator of NASA, Glenn, and later fell into a relationship with the recurring political consultant Mike Barnow . In season 4, Nadine leaves the State Department to spend more time with her family . </Li>

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