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.