In the Washington Post, Immanent Frame contributor D. Michael Lindsay discusses the findings of the White House Fellows Project, a “comprehensive study of the program and its impact on the lives of current and former fellows.” Writes Lindsay:
Corporations devote vast sums of money each year to recruiting and developing talent among their people. However, this study shows that the White House can do the same with even less funding (total program costs, including all salaries and expenses is less than $5 million a year), and the White House Fellowship produces not only future leaders for the public sector but also public-minded leaders in a number of other professions. Beyond cabinet secretaries, congressmen, and presidential hopefuls (including Wesley Clark and Sam Brownback), the program boasts over 20 alumni who have become college presidents and deans as well as another 20 top leaders from the artistic, media, and nonprofit sectors.
President Johnson wanted the program to elicit much greater civic involvement among bright, ambitious young people. The study shows that the program does lead to more public service. For example, when comparing jobs held by fellows before and after this yearlong experience, the percentage of these young people working in government–at the local, state, or federal levels–nearly doubles. That’s good for all of us. We need more bright, talented young people in public service.
Continue reading at the Washington Post.