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It's true that Judah Benjamin, formerly of Louisiana, was called the "Brains of the Confederacy" and effectively ran the government when President Davis' health issues kept him from doing so. The reason he held two cabinet positions (Secretary of War and Secretary of State) was because he took the blame for the debacle at Roanoke Island and did not divulge that, as Secretary of War, he had no troops and materiel to send to reinforce Roanoke, which fell to the Union. The Confederate government did not want it known how poor their condition was at the time. In return for his loyalty and keeping quiet about the Confederacy's dire straits, President Davis appointed him Secretary of State, a position for which he was exceptionally well suited. In addition to his duties as Secretary of State, he also ran the Confederate's secret service and clandestine Canadian operations, often working 10 or more hours per day.