"We'll just have to wait and see if there isn't just one big paper shredder at the end of the pipeline," she says.
Zinberg, like virtually all of her colleagues in the Carter advisory camp, does not envision any expansion of her present role after a victory in November.
"I can assure you," she says. "I'll still be at 9 Div. Avenue."
Zinberg has been called upon by the Carter forces to draft a paper on her interpretation of the function of science education, to critique a report on issues confronting scientists which task force coordinator Lewis Branscomb, IBM's vice president and chief scientist, drafted, and to participate in a science briefing with the Democratic candidate before he debates President Ford.
Her role in the advisory effort so far stands in contrast to that of fellow science policy task force member Harvey Brooks, McKay Professor of Applied Physics.
So far, Brooks says, his involvement has been limited to a couple of phone conversations with Branscomb, and subsequent invitations to submit papers on science policy. Brooks has not yet taken Branscomb up on any of those invitations, but he says his role may expand as the campaign continues.
Charles Haar, Brandeis Professor of Law, is the coordinator of the housing and land use task force, one of the few advisory panels that has actually convened as a group.
Haar, who met with Carter two weeks ago, says he is encouraged by the amount of input his group has been granted thus far, although "they haven't taken everything we've recommended into consideration."
Marcia Guttentag, lecturer on Education, is a member of Carter's health task force, and helped draft policy recommendations for the increased involvement of women in the field of mental health. Guttentag terms her role a "continuing involvement" with the Carter-Mondale ticket, and adds that she is "very impressed by their very systematic effort to locate women with important skills thoughout the country."
"Carter has been going after people who can deliver substantively, not based on place of origin," she adds, "and he has shown great taste."
***
Martin Feldstein, professor of Economics and a member of Carter's economic policy task force, says he believes that the role that all the task forces play in the formulation of policy initiatives will diminish as the campaign wears on.
"There will have to be more time for campaigning, and less time for drafting position papers," he says.
Feldstein is more definite than many of his colleagues on the role he feels task force members will play in a Carter-Mondale administration. "If the ticket wins, they'll have several people to help work on their policy; there will be jobs for a number of permanent staff members," he explains.
It is clear that no one in Cambridge is openly lusting after an advisory position in the Carter administration. Tacit in virtually all Harvard-Carter advisors' statements concerning their own futures with Carter is the understanding that Carter seems to want to remain without strings at least for now. If he really is beholden to no one, he would in all probability select his closest advisors from the rands of those from whose help he has profited most during the campaign.
"I take it for granted that Carter, a man of the people, would like to draw on as wide a selection of people as possible in his campaign," explains Katz.
And if you can extrapolate from what appears to be the prevailing sentiment in the Carter camp these days, there probably won't be busloads of Harvard faculty members making the jaunt down to Washington next January.
In the meantime, as Zinberg puts it, "a lot of people used to be getting deference and action who don't now; but everybody is working, and I feel very positive about it.