Special Section: 50 Faces for America's Future

It has become an almost universal complaint that the tribe of leaders has died out. That is true in one sense:

those Olympian figures who dominated earlier decades of the century are gone. But leadership has not vanished; its character has changed. So have the styles and opportunities of leaders, along with the perspectives, needs and expectations of the led.

Despite new hazards and constraints, there is no shortage of talent; leaders are continuing to emerge across the U.S.

Here and on the following pages, TIME identifies some of them. The 200 young leaders of five years ago were all 45 years old or younger. This time the age limit remains the same. But only 50 leaders were sought, not because of a diminished pool of talent but because many of the previous 200 would once again qualify—they still have not reached 45.

In May, TIME correspondents and editors began gathering suggestions from Congressmen, religious leaders, educators, politicians and prominent citizens in every part of the nation. TIME tried especially to find leaders on the local and regional levels. As North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt remarked: "I think we've got the attitude in this country that Government has to do everything for people. My whole approach is 'Let's try to do it for ourselves on the local level.' " The magazine sought figures of integrity who have exerted a significant social or civic impact, regardless of politics or ideology. Boston College President J. Donald Monan expressed an instructive distinction: "Most of the leaders I am acquainted with are not technicians. They have large souls and a sense of values."

TIME's portfolio of promise is more a sampler of outstanding leadership than an effort to pick the 50 who obviously and definitively lead all the rest. There were too many excellent candidates to make any such specific claim; inevitably, the choices were in part subjective! Some of the 50 were picked more for potential than for present accomplishments; they are just starting out, but TIME's editors liked where they are heading. The list does not include many outstanding Americans who lead in the arts. The visionary architect, the composer, the actor, for example, may all make distinguished contributions to the quality of American life. But TIME was looking for people whose effect upon the society was—and will be—more tangible and direct.

Our search found a diverse and exciting group: educators, politicians, administrators, scientists. More than half are only in their 30s—which is an encouraging sign.

The list shows how times have changed; women and minorities are better represented than they were five years ago. All those on the list share one characteristic, the sense of boldness that remains the prime prerequisite for leadership in any era.

Herewith, TIME presents 50 faces for the future.

1. David Aaron, 39. At the first meeting of the U.S. and U.S.S.R. SALT negotiators nearly ten years ago in Helsinki, the atmosphere was frosty until a U.S. representative impulsively struck a match to light a cigarette for a Soviet negotiator. The tension eased, and Aaron, then a junior aide, has been making sparks ever since. Now, as deputy to National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, he exercises powerful influence in the White House. A moderate on U.S.-Soviet affairs,