1st Edition
Public Service Exemplars A Finer Spirit of Hope and Achievement
Understanding and encouraging the development of good leaders is so important that schools of business administration, public administration, public policy, and organizational development teach courses in leadership. Within the public administration literature, scholars have discussed the value of studying outstanding individuals who have been uniquely effective in fulfilling their formal duties, as well as ethical in leading their organizations. Public Service Exemplars is the first book to highlight the decision-making styles of American public servants who serve as models of excellence in public service.
While the roles they held, eras in which they served, formal training for the job, personalities, and relative levels of fame differ widely, the figures profiled in this book are united in their strong belief in the efficacy of government service and a willingness to employ innovative methods for accomplishing objectives. Examining three theories of decision-making by effective leaders (autocratic leadership, democratic leadership, and delegative leadership), this book explores the way that unelected leaders working within public agencies—and, in a couple of cases, the United States military—reached decisions that are widely considered to be highly effective. Profiling leaders as diverse as Robert Moses, Frances Perkins, James Webb, Colin Powell, and Anthony Fauci to name a few, Public Service Exemplars questions whether great leadership truly is, as it is often assumed, an elusive, almost indefinable quality. Can it be taught? Are effective leaders born, made, or a combination thereof? This book will be of keen interest to both current and future public service leaders, including students enrolled in public administration and nonprofit management courses.
Introduction and Acknowledgements Part I: Autocratic Leadership 1. Harold L. Ickes (1874-1952) 2. Leslie Groves (1896-1970) 3. Robert Moses (1888-1981) 4. Allen Dulles (1893-1969) 5. Hyman G. Rickover (1900-1986) Part II: Democratic Leadership 6. Charles G. Dawes (1865-1951) 7. Frances Perkins (1880-1965) 8. David Lilienthal (1899-1981) 9. Frances Oldham Kelsey (1914-2015) 10. Wilbur J. Cohen (1913-1987) 11. Stewart Udall (1920-2010) 12. James Webb (1906-1992) 13. Robert C. Weaver (1907-1997) 14. Elliot L. Richardson (1920-1999) 15. Alan K. “Scotty” Campbell (1923-1998) 16. James A. Baker III (1930- ) 17. Alice Rivlin (1931-2019) 18. Elmer B. Staats (1914-2011) 19. Constance Berry Newman (1935- ) 20. Prudence Bushnell (1946- ) 21. Colin Powell (1937-2021) Part III: Delegative Leadership 22. Montgomery Meigs (1816-1892) 23. Alice Hamilton (1869-1970) 24. Ralph Bunche (1903/04-1971) 25. David O. “Doc” Cooke (1920-2002) 26. Dwight Ink (1922-2021) 27. George Shultz (1920-2021) 28. Anthony Fauci (1940- )
Biography
J. Michael Martinez is an assistant professor of legal studies at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA, and a former lecturer of political science and public administration at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including Scoundrels: Political Scandals in American History (2023) and Congressional Lions: Trailblazing Members of Congress and How they Shaped American History (2019).
“Mike Martinez has put together an outstanding book of biographies about public administrators which he very helpfully, but loosely, bunches together in Kurt Lewin’s leadership trilogy: autocratic leadership, democratic leadership, and laissez-faire (that is, delegative) leadership. He is very sensitive to the needs of the task, project, or crisis, so a one-style-fits-all is not what the book aims to achieve. Indeed, great managers/leaders adapt as needed, something easier said than done! So, when he categorizes leaders with their primary style pattern, the descriptions note that they may face challenges when the circumstances shift. The autocratic hero of today who fixed a crisis, may quickly become deemed a tyrant in the aftermath when compassion, attention, and multifaceted analysis is needed. Conversely, laissez-faire leaders need to know when to step in and take control when the situation or management goes amok. The 28 chapters are short enough to have robust discussions, without the biographical underbrush that can get in the way of easy cross analysis, but not so long as to become tedious. This is a splendid text for the classroom or lay reader, but equally as interesting for the scholar who needs concrete examples of administrative leaders. I could not recommend it more highly.”
Montgomery Van Wart, Professor and Faculty Research Fellow, California State University, San Bernardino, USA; author of Dynamics of Leadership in Public Service: Theory and Practice and Leadership and Culture: Comparative Models of Top Civil Servant Training
“Mike Martinez created a daunting task when he chose to write a book about public servants whose careers were models of excellence. During almost six decades in public administration, I have known many exemplary public servants—enough to fill several books. Despite the challenge, Martinez succeeded admirably at his task. Today’s students—even those already at midcareer—will likely encounter many of the exemplars about whom he writes for the first time. I have fortunately known many of them during my long career, among them, “Doc” Cooke, Constance Berry Newman, Alice Rivlin, George Schultz, and Elmer Staats. All public administrators should have a copy of this book on their shelves to remind themselves—and anyone who asks—what makes public servants exemplary.”
James L. Perry, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Chancellor’s Professor of Public and Environmental Affairs Emeritus, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA; co-editor, Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration; author of Public Service and Good Governance for the Twenty-first Century (2020) and Managing Organizations to Sustain Passion for Public Service (2021)
"Through 28 American case studies, Mike Martinez brings high profile public administration leaders to life, ably convincing the reader that there are many ways to successfully serve as a government official. Tactics, methods, approaches, and styles may differ, but the one constant is being of preeminent service to the people and their elected officials."
Rosemary O'Leary, Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor Emerita, University of Kansas, USA; co-author of Leading in Place: Leadership Through Different Eyes
"In Public Service Exemplars: A Finer Spirit of Hope and Achievement, J. Michael Martinez provides a readable, digestible detailing of three types of leadership style--autocratic, democratic, and delegative--among non-elected administrators to help us understand the roles of these players in our government. His short biographies of household names like Colin Powell and Anthony Fauci, and lesser-known administrators like Montgomery Meigs, remind us of the daunting task these unsung heroes of government face in times of more normal politics. Martinez reminds us that we should appreciate their training and dedication even more in this polarized environment, with its threats against the so-called deep state. A must read for students of Public Administration."
Jim Twombly, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Elmira College, USA; co-author of Directing the Whirlwind: Deconstruction, Distrust, and the Future of American Democracy
