John Stewart Herrington was born May 31, 1939, in Los Angeles, California. He received an A.B. from Stanford University in 1961, and a J.D., L.L.B. from the University of California, School of Law in 1964. He served as deputy district attorney in Ventura County, California from 1965 to 1966. He was a private attorney from 1965 to 1981. He served on the White House staff from 1981 to 1985, and served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1982 to 1983. He was nominated to be Secretary of Energy January 18, 1985, confirmed on February 6, 1985, and served February 7, 1985 to January 20, 1989. He became chairman of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich publishers in 1990.
From the description of Herrington, John S., 1939- (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10569814