Electronic Data Systems, the company through which he made his fortune, had a poor record of promoting minorities under his directorship.

He promoted many women and minorities to senior positions for the first time, and cut a distinct figure with his thick New York accent.

The program's weakness is that it provides few incentives for executives to spot, train and promote qualified minorities and women into the higher managerial ranks.

The report recommends that the Federal Government lead by example by promoting women and minorities to senior management and decision-making positions.

It also offers a revealing glimpse into the Administration's problems of balancing local interests while promoting minorities and women in record numbers to important Federal jobs.

In the companies' zeal to promote women and minorities, she said, "a less competent black guy can be promoted over a white.

He promoted women and minorities in record numbers and his concerns about the environment are now widely held.

The commission also found that some industries were more likely to promote women and minorities into management positions than were others.

Senator Turner said Mr. Corzine could do more to promote minorities, particularly judges.

Criticism of the insular Detroit auto industry for not promoting women and minorities, long heard from outsiders, has recently been voiced within the industry as well.