Hiring Line

Only white males need apply

Almost unnoticed, as Reagan geared up for the budget battle, was his failure so far to make good on a campaign promise that women and minorities would get a fair share of the policymaking jobs in his Administration. As of last Friday, 130 of the positions had been filled, one-third of the total, but only two of them by blacks, one being the personnel officer who is supposed to recruit nonwhites for high-level Administration jobs. In addition, only 15 of the posts went to women.

Complained Iris Mitgang, chairman of the National Women's Political Caucus:

"It's outrageous." Her group compiled a list of 150 "highly qualified" Republican women for consideration for jobs in the Administration. "All were ignored," she said. Blacks generally have withheld their criticism, awaiting the final appointments, which are expected this month.

But Althea Simmons, head of the N.A.A.C.P.'S Washington office, is not optimistic. Said she: "I sense that the end result is not going to be pleasing.''

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