RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, November 13, 2008, The New Republic
In this opinion piece published in the New Republic, Robert Puentes argues that President-elect Obama has a tremendous opportunity to connect infrastructure spending to broad national goals (such as economic competitiveness and environmental sustaianability). In this way the federal stimulus dollars can accelerate the right kind of projects in the right places, creating jobs and waking up related areas of the economy. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Washington, DC
President-elect Barack Obama now faces the daunting challenge of shaping a new administration. On November 12, William Galston moderated a discussion with David Lewis and Kathryn Dunn Tenpas to examine the basis on which presidents pick their political appointees and the impact of their choices on government performance. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen Hess, November 06, 2008, Politico
Stephen Hess offers suggestions to the new president-elect on how to best fill his cabinet. Hess cautions Obama, who will need to fill twice as many jobs than John F. Kennedy did, to factor in diversity as well as political and managerial talent. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen Hess, November 06, 2008, The Washington Post
President-elect Barack Obama will be besieged by proposals to reorganize government. Stephen Hess offers five tips for avoiding political minefields on the way to inauguration day. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Russell Wheeler, October 21, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Brookings expert Russell Wheeler offers clues to how a President McCain or Obama might affect the composition of the United States Supreme Court as well as the courts of appeals. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Russell Wheeler, September 09, 2008, The Miami Herald
Hot-button social topics often dominate voters' views of where presidential candidates stand on judicial appointments. Plus, as in much of U.S. politics, the process of getting judges on the bench has become cantankerous and divided. Russell Wheeler says that the next president should try to work with the Senate to restore civility. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Gary Burtless, March 22, 2002, The Presidential Appointee Initiative
"Current appointees receive salaries worth substantially less than the incomes earned by early Nixon administration appointees," states Brookings Senior Fellow Gary Burtless, author of a report, How Much is Enough? Setting Pay for Presidential Appointees. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Carole M. Plowfield and Paul C. Light, March 22, 2002, The Presidential Appointee Initiative
Presidential appointees are subject to less competitive relocation policies than those in the private sector reports Paul C. Light and Carole Plowfield in "Problems on the Potomac: How Relocation Policies for Presidential Appointees Can Help Win the Talent War." Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Judith M. Labiner and Paul C. Light, October 19, 2001, The Presidential Appointee Initiative
Brookings Study Finds Public Confidence in Presidential Appointees Rising Dramatically in Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Judith M. Labiner, September 6, 2001, The Presidential Appointee Initiative
A new survey by The Presidential Appointee Initiative, reports that Americans are cynical about both the presidential appointments process, which they view as tortuously long and intrusive, and presidential appointees, whom they perceive as being selected for their campaign contributions. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen Hess, Spring 2001, The Brookings Institution
In this Brookings Review article, Stephen Hess offers a quick survey of the highlights—and lowlights—of five first-term transitions and provides a roadmap to successful transitions. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen Hess, February 25, 2001, Los Angeles Times
The contested election of 2000 provides an excellent example of what can be gained or lost by cutting the traditional 10- to 11-week transition period in half, argues Stephen Hess. President George W. Bush's transition has been remarkably smooth, compared with those of Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush. But the transition's apparent success belies the increasing difficulties in getting a new administration "up and running." Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Paul C. Light and Virginia L. Thomas, January 10, 2001, Presidential Appointee Initiative
""Posts of Honor: How America's Corporate and Civic Leaders View Presidential Appointments,"" reports about how America's civic and corporate leaders view the presidential appointments process. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
November 15, 2000, The Presidential Appointee Initiative
A Survivor's Guide for Presidential Nominees attempts to answer virtually every question someone might have upon being asked to serve as a presidential appointee. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
November 7, 2000, The Presidential Appointee Initiative
""Staffing a New Administration: A Guide to Personnel Appointments in a Presidential Transition."" Read More