But to envious career Foreign Service officers - and to foreign governments insulted by the political spoils system's great and growing role in filling the U.S. diplomatic corps - the naming of Bush, who is unrelated to the President, is more bad news.
So far, half the new administration's 26 reported ambassadors-designate are President Bush's ardent campaigners, big Republican givers or old friends. That's up from 38 percent under President Ronald Reagan and 25 percent under President Jimmy Carter, according to State Department statistics.
CAREER OFFICERS APPALLED
Career Foreign Service officers, mannered diplomats of an unruly nation, are appalled.
"Only a few two-bit banana republics allow political appointees to dominate their diplomatic service the way we do," groused Ambassador Malcolm Toon, a retired career officer who headed missions in Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Israel and the Soviet Union between 1969 and 1976.
And while political appointments to ambassadorships normally surge at an administration's start, a top patronage advisor predicts that Bush's high rate will hold. "Over the years, career people kept creeping up, and the private sector got pushed out," he said, asking not to be identified. "Now we're coming back."
And how. Bush started firing blue-bordered vice presidential memos at Secretary of State-designate James A. Baker 3d early in the transition, besieging him with ambassadorial suggestions that have proven to be commands.
"What does Fred Bush want?" the president-elect asked Fred Zeder, a mutual friend, while they hurled horseshoes at the vice presidential residence in late November, according to associates.
"France or Luxembourg," replied Zeder.
