Samuel Riley "Silent Sam" Pierce, Jr. (September 8, 1922–October 31, 2000) was Ronald Reagan's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He was Reagan's only African American cabinet member and the only one to serve in his post throughout both of Reagan's terms as President. After leaving office he was investigated by the United States Office of the Independent Counsel. He graduated from Cornell University in 1947 and received a law degree from Cornell Law School in 1949. He earned a Master of Laws degree from New York University School of Law in 1952.
