The last in the Moody Series will consider the task of managing the unexpected. Every administration inevitably faces a hostage crisis on American soil, like Waco, or an international incident, like downing an American spy plane in China. And with troubling regularity, every administration must contemplate an economic meltdown on a global scale. What steps does an administration take in the first moments of these crises? How does the President’s team handle the urgent without losing sight of their own ambitious agendas? These questions represent some of the critical issues that the participants in this last event will consider. That event involves partners at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and School of Government Service.

The symposium discussed a range of  mechanisms for supporting smooth and effective executive transitions following democratic elections. It underscored the critical importance of regional and political contexts in the development of mechanisms to support smooth transitions, while also highlighting themes that transcend contexts.  These include importance of a neutral civil service, the obligations of the outgoing government administration, and the impact of legal frameworks governing transitions. The report provides a brief summary of the discussion and highlights important points to consider when approaching transitions, whether as a stakeholder in the process or as an external assistance partner.