More than 80 percent said they felt favorable toward the idea of serving as an appointee, and four in 10 felt very favorable toward serving. America's civic and corporate leaders see many benefits in serving as a presidential appointee. The vast majority of the respondents said a presidential appointment would give them valuable contacts, open future leadership opportunities, and increase their future earning power. Potential appointees see presidential service as a place to earn respect from family and friends, as well as a place to make a difference. State and local government officials, think tank scholars, and lobbyists all perceived significantly higher respect and a greater ability to make a difference through an appointment.
Potential appointees are conscious of the costs as well as the benefits of serving.
Just 5 percent perceived appointees' salaries as being much or somewhat better than a senior position outside government. University presidents, corporate CEOs, and nonprofit executives were least likely to see potentially increased earning power from an appointment. In contrast, think tank scholars, lobbyists, and state and local government officials all saw future gains in salary. Potential appointees understood that a presidential appointment would be more disruptive to their personal lives than positions outside government. Even corporate CEOs and university presidents, who occupy some of the most stressful jobs around, saw presidential service as more burdensome than other senior posts.