As Secretary, he was the second-highest official of that dicastery.
So the second-highest official in the land came and left the building with virtually no record for posterity.
The Iran-contra affair is an uncomfortable subject for Mr. Gates, who was the agency's second-highest official at the time.
The Vice Mayor is the second-highest official of the city.
In delivering that shot, the papal spokesman seemed to suggest that the second-highest official elected by Americans was a hypocrite.
Instead, the speaker is the head of the majority party; the majority leader is only the second-highest official.
The secretary, or second-highest official, of the Congregation once served as the personal sacristan to the Pope.
Another element in the plan is to use Mr. Bush's position as the nation's second-highest elected official as a campaign asset.
He said that his eight years as New York City's second-highest elected official, public advocate, will resonate favorably throughout the state.
Sandberger was the second-highest official of Einsatzgruppe A to be tried, and convicted.