Many of the candidates also say that in the next administration, widely expected to be friendlier to the next public advocate, the role will be redefined.
The remarkable summit meeting between the Korean leaders this week has left the Clinton administration widely divided over North Korea's intentions, but has not so far diminished its resolve to move ahead with a missile defense, administration and defense officials say.
The Obama administration widely criticized the move.
But with an influx of roughly 68,000 family units entering illegally last year, along with another 68,000 unaccompanied minors, the Obama administration widely expanded family detention, saying it would act as a deterrent.
Mr. Pierce, the only cabinet secretary to serve all eight years of the Reagan administration, was widely derided within the administration and on Capitol Hill as Silent Sam because of his low profile.
That decision, reversing one that had been made by the Clinton administration, was widely regarded as a sign that the new administration thought the census professionals at the bureau would be inclined to favor adjustment.
Yet again a Republican administration is widely seen as unfriendly to the environment, and its E.P.A. administrator as a casualty of neglect.
His administration is widely expected to bring a lawsuit soon challenging the deeply unjust Arizona law.
The summit meeting this week has left various parts of the administration with widely divergent interpretations as to its significance.
The Bush administration has widely alleged that Abu Zubaydah was the head of a military camp that trained terrorists.
The Clinton administration was widely criticized for its failure to pursue evidence that Iran was behind the bombing, but now, the Bush administration has shown that same reluctance.
