Discuss the Current and Previous OMB Directors

[JSojourner]

While driving to South Bend on business Tuesday, I listened to an hour-long interview with James Galbraith and Alice Rivlin.  It was an outstanding discussion that might only have been better if someone like Beet or Torie had been asking the questions.  Susan Page of USA Today did okay, I guess.  But Rivlin got me to thinking about all the previous OMB bosses I could name.  Not many!  Of course, that got me thinking of all of you.

Here is a list of some past OMB Directors.  I would be interested in hearing what you folks have to say about their performance in that capacity.  Some held elective office before taking over OMB and some assumed an elective office after.  But I am asking you to mull their OMB service only.

I am cutting it off with Nixon but feel free to go farther back.  Cheers!


Peter Orszag (Current)
Jim Nussle  (2007-2009)
Rob Portman (06-07)
Josh Bolten (03-06)
Mitch Daniels (01-03)
Jacob Lew (98-01)
Franklin Raines (96-98)
Alice Rivlin (94-96)
Leon Panetta (93-94)
Richard Darman (89-93) Served the entire H.W. Bush term, interestingly
Joseph Wright Junior (88-89)
James Miller III (85-88)
David Stockman (81-85)
James T. McIntyre (77-81)
Bert Lance (77)
James Lynn (75-77)
Roy Ash (73-75)
Cap Weinberger (72-73)
Geo. Schultz (70-72)
Bob Mayo (69-70)

[Bo]

All the ones under Reagan and both Bushes were bad and all the ones under Clinton were good. I have no idea about the other ones.

[JSojourner]

All the ones under Reagan and both Bushes were bad and all the ones under Clinton were good. I have no idea about the other ones.

kthxbye

[J. J.]

All the ones under Reagan and both Bushes were bad and all the ones under Clinton were good. I have no idea about the other ones.

kthxbye

Miller was noted as a deregulator, favored privatizing the Post Office, and lost the Senate primary to North in VA in 1994.  He was a student of James Buchannan, the Nobel laureate.

He was a fiscal conservative, but socially moderate.  He published a book, c. 1970, on why the draft should be abolishes, with a forward by Ed Brooke.  He also had a staff poition with the Ford administration.