In the United States, new government employees begin their careers by pledging their allegiance to the Constitution and by committing to conscientious service dedicated to solving public problems. But what do public servants get in return? For many, a chance to serve provides public servants with a higher purpose as well as professional and personal meaning in their lives and careers. In The Promise of Public Service: Ideas and Examples for Effective Service, Michael M. Stahl, a 40-year veteran in the executive and legislative branches of state and federal service, explores what makes public servants effective by offering useful ideas and examining the accomplishments of public servants throughout American history. The book blends practical ideas and illustrative profiles as Stahl reflects seriously on theoretical frameworks, skillfully synthesizing practical experience with rigorous theoretical and conceptual analysis. Undergraduate- and graduate-level courses will benefit from The Promise of Public Service as a resource, and practitioners of public service in all its forms will benefit from these ideas and examples at any stage of their careers.
Author(s): Michael M. Stahl
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 313
City: New York
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
A Blessing for Public Servants
Foreword
The Outline of this Book
Author’s Life in Public Service
Explanation of Notes
Part I Ideas for Effective Public Service
1 Introduction: The Oath and the Opportunity
Elements of the New Public Service
Seeking Their Purpose
Key Concepts
Notes
Bibliography
2 The Attitude of a Public Servant
Necessary Elements
Idealism
Altruism
Pragmatism
Receptivity
Moral Courage
Perseverance
Resilience
Using the Elements to Serve the Public
Maintaining the Student Mindset
Having and Being a Mentor
Epilogue
Key Concepts
Notes
Bibliography
3 A Philosophy for Reflective Practitioners: Creating Public Value and Solving Public Problems
Creating Public Value
How Problems Get On the Public Agenda
The Problem-Solving Framework of Public Management
Problem-Solving Protocol
Epilogue
Key Concepts
Notes
Bibliography
4 Implementing Public Policy and Using Networks
Model of the Public Policy Implementation Process
Implementation Variables
Six Conditions of Effective Implementation
Designing and Managing Networks
Epilogue
Key Concepts
Notes
Bibliography
5 Performance-Based Management: An Opportunity Squandered
What Is Performance-Based Management?
Legislating Performance-Based Management in the United States
Defining the Terms of Strategic Planning
Purposes Served, Benefits Derived From Measuring Performance
Developing Performance Measures
Obstacles to Performance-Based Management Reforms
Epilogue
Key Concepts
Notes
Bibliography
6 Greatest Achievements of Government
Identifying the Greatest Achievements
Discussion of the Greatest Achievements of U.S. Government
Descriptions of the Top 10 Achievements
Lessons of the Great Achievements
Future Challenges for Government’s Attention
Key Concepts
Notes
Bibliography
7 Qualities Needed By Future Public Servants
Strategists and Entrepreneurs
Masters of Improvisation
Champions of Effectiveness
Reflective Practitioners
Stewards of the Public Interest
Answering the Call to Public Service
Key Concepts
Bibliography
Part II Examples for Effective Public Service: Profiles of Public Service Heroes
8 Abraham Lincoln: His “Sacred Effort” to Keep the Union Together
Setting the Stage: America in March 1865
Lincoln’s Greatest Speech
The First Paragraph – Setting Expectations
The Second Paragraph – “And the War Came …”
The Third Paragraph
The Fourth Paragraph – “… Let Us Strive to Finish the Work We Are in …”
Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
9 Frederick Douglass: Calling Out the Cruelty and Hypocrisy of Slavery
Douglass’s Evolution to Reformer and Statesman
The Fourth of July Speech
Notes
Bibliography
10 IDA B. Wells: Journalist for Justice
Beginnings in Mississippi and Memphis
From Teacher, to Journalist, to Newspaper Owner
A Lynching in Memphis, and On to New York City
Speaking in Scotland and England, Adopting Chicago as Home
Ida Returns to the United States
Establishing the Negro Fellowship League
Ida Organizes the Alpha Suffrage Club
Documenting Injustice
Final Years
Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
11 Upton Sinclair: Author, Socialist, and Muckraker
Early Years as a Writer
Becoming a Muckraker
His Later Years in California
Notes
Bibliography
12 Alice Paul: Tireless Champion of Women’s Rights
Early Years – Education, England, and Discovering the Suffragist Movement
The Suffrage Procession in Washington, DC
Woodrow Wilson’s Recalcitrance, Women’s Organizations Sort Themselves, and the Launch of The Suffragist
The Silent Sentinels
Congress Approves the Suffrage Amendment
The States Ratify
Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
13 Plain-Spoken President: Harry S. Truman, “Tireless, Fearless, and Decisive”
Early Years and Formative Experiences
Becoming Vice President
Serving as President
Winning His Own Term: Give ‘Em Hell Harry
Big Challenges: The Korean Conflict and the Insubordination of Douglas MacArthur
Finishing His Term and Returning to Independence
Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
14 Frances Perkins: The Driving Force of the New Deal
Early Years: “Be Ye Steadfast”
Inventing “Frances” Perkins
Making a Career in New York City
Becoming U.S. Secretary of Labor
Developing the Social Security Program
Frances Faces Impeachment
The Death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Final Years
Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
15 George C. Marshall: From Soldier to Statesman – Implementing the Plan to Save Europe
Rescuing Europe
Conference of Foreign Ministers
Developing the Plan
The Harvard Commencement Speech
Bevin Organizes Europe
The Paris Conference
Generating Support From the American Public and the U.S. Congress
Aid Begins to Flow to Europe
George Marshall Tries (Unsuccessfully) to Step Away
Notes
Bibliography
16 Martin Luther King, Jr.: Letter From the Birmingham Jail
King’s Early Years – Preparing for the Pulpit
King’s Journey as a Civil Rights Leader Begins
On to Birmingham …
Notes
Bibliography
17 Rachel Carson: Mother of the Environmental Movement
Rachel’s Early Years and Education
Rachel’s Writing Career Flourishes
Rachel Carson and Dorothy Freeman
Creating Silent Spring
The Death and the Legacy of Rachel Carson
Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
18 Robert F. Kennedy: Beacon of Hope
Bibliography
19 Sergio Vieira De Mello: Diplomat in Harm’s Way
Guiding East Timor to Independence
Sergio Vieira De Mello’s Final Assignment
August 19, 2003
Notes
Bibliography
Epilogue to Part II: Lessons Learned From the Public Service Heroes
Note
Appendix Ripples of Hope
Sustaining Quotations for Public Servants
Idealism
Altruism
Pragmatism
Moral Courage
Perseverance
Resilience
Legacy
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
Index
