Early assessments of the impact of the Community Action Program (CAP) of the Federal War on Poverty suggested that its major achievement would be the creation of a corps of black political leaders. Data gathered from a nationwide sample of 210 black elected officials in State and local government show that nearly a quarter of those elected since the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 had substantial pre-election CAP experience. In contrast to other black politicians the former CAP officials appeared more politically ambitious, were more likely to hold State rather than local office, and tended to come from urban rather than small city or rural jurisdictions. In addition there is evidence to indicate that the CAPs provided significant training in leadership skills and played some political support functions. (Author/KR)