The Presidency and the Executive Office of the President

Abstract

The Report of President's Committee on Administrative Management is a landmark from which all subsequent discussions of Presidency must take their bearings. It recalled without apology intended and inherent strength of Presidency. It further noted, I believe correctly, that the American must be regarded as one of very greatest contributions by our Nation to development of modern democracya unique institution....2 It recognized need for institutional arrangements to make President effective in his great office and addressed itself to meeting that need. Most of emphasis of Brownlow-Gulick-Merriam report was upon weakness of Chief Executive's staff, a malady more or less endemic in federal service at that time, and upon means of enlarging and enriching that staff to make it more adequate. It should not be forgotten, however, that committee made impressive and forthright recommendations to strengthen and tighten up entire chain of command throughout operations of executive branch. If these recommendations as to line organization had been accepted they would doubtless have led to as significant results as did staff proposals. The committee's program was well rounded, not one sided. In clarity and vigor of concept of Presidential office Brownlow committee set a standard which has not beeen surpassed. The Brownlow-Gulick-Merriam plan was to provide President an Executive of staff assistants and staff agencies to aid him as Chief and Administrator. The Office was to contain: