In most Workgroups, the five leaders worked in close harmony, supporting each other and operating as a team. In others, questions arose as to the division of functions between the Workgroup chairman and the discussion leader, with one comment to the effect that the latter position was quite unnecessary since anyone capable of acting as chairman could also have led and directed the discussion. Many praised the behavior of their groups and the ability of the delegates, despite wide differences in beliefs, to discuss controversial issues freely and objectively and without acrimony. As one leader stated: "Our session ended with a sense of satisfaction that there had been a free open discussion-even beyond the limits of our assignment and that the resolutions had been arrived at on the basis of conviction rather than on prejudice." Another commented that the Workgroup discussions had been the telling factor in shaping the recommendations and that the cause "was not so much a flood of irresistible eloquence as a kind of insight which developed as facts were presented." U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1961 |