Abstract
This research note examines the partisan affiliations of top-level appointees and civil servants in the Nixon, Reagan, and Bush administrations, and their beliefs about the appropriate role of government in the economy. The data we use are drawn from a longitudinal study of federal executives in these administrations. Over time the ranks of political appointees and senior civil servants have become more Republican. The samples of appointees and civil servants were also more conservative in their views on the role of government in the economy in the Reagan and Bush administrations than they were in the Nixon administration, with Bush administration personnel more moderate on this issue than Reagan administration officials. The note examines reasons for the changes, investigates differences within and between the samples, and lays out some preliminary interpretations of the data utilizing analysis of the political environment of each administration and opportunities for manipulation of the federal personnel system presented by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
