Organizational Imperatives

Abstract

For the turbulent, uncertain world of the 1970's, with the role of the presidency in foreign affairs more limited or less visibly centrally involved, revised organizational modalities become imperative. Foreign affairs staffing of the President should be sufficient to ensure that he is immediately informed of all significant events abroad, but should avoid overcumbersome organizational layers or overintense presidential involvement. This will require the State Department to carry out fully the responsibilities envisioned in National Security Affairs Memorandum (NSAM) 341. Given certain apparently immutable characteristics of American bureaucracy, this will necessitate return of the United States Information Agency (USIA) to the Department, which will give the Secretary of State line control over all major agencies dealing primarily with foreign affairs. It will be necessary to relieve the Secretary's enormous burden by converting the Department's second ranking position to one in which the incumbent can act as true alter ego of the Secretary; by creating a new position of Permanent Under Secretary as the third ranking Department position, where lines of policy and management can converge effectively; and by staffing other high-level positions with individuals capable of making the decisions required by the 1970's. The new President can further strengthen the State Department by giving his full support to the ambassador in his role of "the President's man."