This study focuses on eight cities in the Model Cities Program and the effects of the program on national urban policy and the ability of cities and counties to cope with urban problems. The cities (Boston, Chicago, Dayton, Indianapolis, Newark, New York, Savannah, and Seattle) were chosen not only for their geographic and population representativeness, but also because they were reported to be making some noticeable impact on their communities. However, these few cities have been used only as a base for an analysis of the full program. Findings of studies conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and others (plus other studies done by the author) involving as little as one city and as many as all 147 cities in the Model Cities Program, are used for comparative purposes, to confirm or qualify some points. The document is in the form of eight case studies and deals with the major components of the Model Cities Program and what impact they have had on relieving urban problems in each area. Its focus is on the operation of local general government and how this has been affected by the objectives, organization, and methods imposed by the Model Cities Program. The overall analysis is a synthesis of these experiences and how they have measured up to the program's main objectives. (Author/JM)