# The Nixon structure

By Erwin D. Canham

Many of the big ones are still to come.

But so far, President-Elect Nixon's appointments to high office have been impressive.

They have brought in several individuals of real intellectual strength as well as moderate and balanced views. Few political debts seem to have been paid in the currency of high office. Some of that no doubt will appear. But the real group, the intelligent core of advisers, is made up of a high proportion of individuals who know their stuff and are respected by their peers.

Among the wisest of all Mr. Nixon's decisions was to ask Chief Justice Earl Warren to remain until the Supreme Court's present term ends in June. To name a new chief justice now would give the court a great problem of adjustment at its busiest time.

It may well be, too, that Mr. Nixon has not decided who should have this awesomely important post. It is just as well. The selection requires very careful thought. The chief justice sets a stamp on the court. And, in all probability, Mr. Nixon will have several other places to fill on the highest tribunal during his term. He may determine its character, to the extent that appointments can ever do so, for almost a generation.

## Excellent experience

In three vital areas, the next president will be well advised. Paul McCracken in economic policymaking, Henry Kissinger in foreign policy, and Lee DuBridge in science, are top-notch aca-

demicians who also have had excellent experience in public affairs. It is possible to call them men of the center, but they are more than that. They are independent, open-minded, apolitical. They are not zealots. They are thoughtful, forceful, shrewd. Mr. Nixon has turned his back on more flamboyant and committed specialists in each field. This is good.

It is interesting that Mr. Nixon has made these and other appointments of his immediate advisers before he makes public his cabinet. He is building up a very strong inner staff. Thus he can maintain proper liaison and control with the departments themselves. He seems to be doing what many academic specialists in the study of presidential power have urged: He is preparing for a strong presidency.

## New generation

Other men around the President-Elect — his counsel, his legislative contact man, etc.—are persons of talent, character, and experience. Many of them are young, representing the best of the upthrusting generation in business and professional life. They are the kind of people who ought to be in politics.

The political shape of this presidency is still uncertain. A significant part of Congress, party labels apart, is sympathetic with the approach typified by the appointments. The men designated are not extensively identified either with the Eastern Establishment or with the traditional GOP.

Professor Kissinger has been closely associated with the Rockefeller brothers but is hardly himself an establishmentarian. And he is far from carrying the ideological torch of the Harvard men brought by President Kennedy to Washington.

Of course, as this is written appointments are coming thick and fast, and if Douglas Dillon becomes Secretary of State while David Rockefeller becomes Secretary of the Treasury, Wall Street will have moved in with a vengeance. But these are able men in their own right. Their political connections have not been partisan.

## Immense problems

General impressions emerging from the Nixon offices are that of a thoughtful mobilization of talent and executive power. The task forces now studying significant policy areas are also impressive.

Obviously the problems of the new administration are immense. The need for strengthening governmental capacity, for cutting out deadwood, for modernizing the structure and personnel of the federal machine, are urgent. Overhaul is required in many departments. Conflict between departments and independent agencies should be reduced.

It is too soon to draw sweeping conclusions. But from the evidence now in, the prospect emerges of effectively structured executive leadership. The difficulties ahead are huge. One can only say that thus far the problem is being tackled intelligently,