The Nation - News from Sept. 1, 1987

The Defense Department, in response to charges that former Navy Secretary John F. Lehman Jr. interfered with military promotion board decisions, has issued new regulations forbidding service secretaries from tampering with the selection process. Lehman’s actions prompted the Senate Armed Services Committee to reject two Lehman-backed promotions because of what the panel called “impropriety and unfairness.” The new rules prohibit service secretaries from providing the selection board with “favorable information or personal opinion” about officers who will be considered for promotions unless the opinions are submitted in writing before consideration.