ABSTRACT
Prior to 1964, the transition from one presidential administration to another was largely dependent on funds from the president-elect's party and on the work of unpaid volunteer staff. For most of the nation's history, presidents took office with relatively little specific preparation or substantive communication with the outgoing administration. As the nation grew in size and presidential responsibilities became more complex, however, the need to maintain effective continuity in the executive branch of government increased accordingly. In 1962, the bipartisan Commission on Campaign Costs, which had been appointed by President John F. Kennedy, recommended that federal funds be made available to pay costs incurred in promoting an orderly change of presidential administrations. Congress responded by enacting the Presidential Transition Act of 1964, which directed government officials to promote orderly transitions in administrations and authorized Con~ress to appropriate funds to cover some of the costs involved in doing so.
