ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses a comparative assessment of the social origins, educational attainments, and careers of the various strategic elites in American society at mid-century. It seeks to trace the majority patterns and, where possible, suggesting long-range trends. The chapter suggests that patterns of recruitment change not only in response to demands for greater numbers of elite candidates, but also because of changing objective requirements. The lowest social stratum of manual workers, however, is only minimally represented among most elites, although those of religion, sports, entertainment, and education may be more accessible. Social characteristics of the members of various elites have long been of interest, but systematic investigations of elite recruitment are rare. In reviewing the patterns of backgrounds and careers, it is evident that the elites described as being concerned primarily with external problems are somewhat more distinctive than those entrusted with internal problems.
