In the 40 years since the first hand-picked candidates were given entrée into the halls of power during the Johnson administration, the White House Fellows program has launched the careers of Cabinet officials, senior White House staff, and members of both the House and Senate. Not to mention federal judges, U.S. attorneys and presidents of universities and colleges.

The bipartisan program, which marked its 40th anniversary last September, has proved to be fertile ground for cultivating leaders, both in government and out. The Senate has a resolution on the table recognizing the program’s role in creating some of the nation’s most important leaders. Though the fellows’ celebration has been low-key, their accomplishments have not.

Well-known alumni include Colin Powell (Class of 1972-73), whose subsequent posts include national security adviser, chairman of the Joint Chiefs and secretary of State.

There are also the likes of Wesley Clark, Sen. Sam Brownback and Elaine Chao, who’s headed the United Way, Peace Corps and, currently, the Labor Department. “The bottom line for White House fellows is that they learn about the complexities of decision-making and getting results,” said Janet Slaughter Eissenstat, director of the program.

Many of the 600 or so graduates have found places outside government, managing large corporations as well as national nonprofits.

“The idea is to create a community of leaders who understand how the government works,” Eissenstat said. “It creates a knowledgeable public-private partnership for national service.”

It was begun in 1965 to “establish an era when the young men and women of America and their government belonged to each other,” says the Senate resolution.

Program officials look for four characteristics in candidates, Eissenstat said: a record of remarkable professional achievement early in their careers; leadership skills and the potential for further growth; commitment to public service; and knowledge and skills to contribute successfully at the highest levels of the federal government.

“We also look for individuals with exceptional writing ability and strong management skills,” she added.

Other public service groups like the program. Patricia McGinnis, president of the Council for Excellence in Government, said candidates learn big lessons when entering the upper echelons of government.

“Many people don’t realize just how much impact you can have working within the federal government,” McGinnis said. “They hear stories of the red tape and the bureaucracy, but the opportunities for talented young people to really make a difference in this country from within government are incredible. At the highest levels there is little room for error, but the experience is unparalleled.”

Cabinet secretaries and agency heads who mentor the fellows also get a dedicated aide. “It can be lonely at the top,” Eissenstat said. “Sometimes the fellow serves an important role as an impartial sounding board. ... It’s a way to let the senior executive verbalize their thought processes in an unguarded way. It creates a bond and some reflective moments.”