The Spoils System / Pendleton Civil Service Act
Summary
Hosts Greg Jackson and Lindsay Cormack discuss the assassination of President James Garfield and its role in ending the spoils system. With guest Zachary Karabell, they explore how Vice President Chester Arthur unexpectedly signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act. The episode examines the shift from political patronage to merit-based federal employment, highlighting the act's limitations and historical context.
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