ABSTRACT
The Murphy Commission, in an unpublished staff study conducted in 1973-1974, found some eighty-three studies of some aspect of the conduct of American foreign relations had been made since 1945, fourteen of which touched on personnel systems and the Foreign Service. To understand the Foreign Service Act of 1980, one must first define some terms. A "single" personnel system structure would place all employees of the foreign affairs agencies, or of a single department such as State, in one category, whether Foreign Service, Civil Service, or some hybrid. The Foreign Service Act of 1946 had provided a sound basis for the operation of a career corps of individuals who represented the nation abroad, and served almost all of their careers overseas, "rotating" periodically from post to post. The American Foreign Service Association issued a comprehensive report in time for use by the new administration to be elected in November 1968, and the Institute for Defense Analyses did the same.
