ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that National Security Council (NSC) staff growth has truly gotten out of hand, that late Obama "right-sizing" efforts only scratched the surface, and that the time has come for truly radical down-sizing. It suggests what principles might guide a genuine "right-sizing" of the NSC staff, and how they might get there from here. The most frequently cited reason for NSC staff growth is enhanced responsibilities. When the least-prepared President-elect in American history speaks of abandoning the pillars of post-World War II U. S. foreign policy, questions like the size of the NSC staff pale in significance. Presidential staff needs to assure that responsible officials are acting in accord with presidential and administration policy. Carter administration policy making is best remembered for the substantive, stylistic, and personal conflict between National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski and Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance, particularly concerning relations with the Soviet Union.
