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History teachers still discuss the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The news media still cover stories that surround the death of John F. Kennedy. But one presidential assassination that goes almost unnoticed is that of James Garfield. However, the tragic death of this President brought about one of the greatest changes in our political system.
In the nineteenth century the spoils system dominated the political process. When someone won a political office they would reward their friends and supporters with an appointed position in government. One man who built his career through the spoils system was Chester Arthur.
Chester A. Arthur was born 1830 in Fairfield, Vermont, the son of Baptist minister. He began his career in education and later moved to New York. After his move to New York, Arthur turned to a career in law, and became an active member of the Republican Party. As a loyal supporter of political boss and U.S. Senator Roscoe Conkling, he held various positions in the state government. They included Engineer in Chief of the New York Senate, Inspector General of New York troops, and Quartermaster General of New York State.
In 1871 President Grant realized that Arthur had been successful in organizing party affairs and was appointed Collector of Customs for the Port of New York. Whoever held this position had the power to appoint almost one thousand people to government jobs. This led to a corrupt system that was used to award party loyalists and people who gave large contributions to political campaigns. However, Arthur gained a reputation for his honesty in this corrupt system. But when Hayes succeeded Grant as President he sought to clean up the Custums House. Arthur defended the people like Senator Conkling who were highly involved in the spoils system. In 1878 President Hayes fired Arthur as Collector of Customs.
At the 1880 Republican National Convention the delegates were divided into several factions. The two main factions were the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds. Conkling, who wanted Grant to return to the White House, led the Stalwarts. The Half-Breeds supported political reform and wanted U.S. Senator James G. Blaine of Maine for President. But neither of these candidates could sway a majority of the delegates. Finally on the thirty-fourth ballot Senator-Elect James Garfield of Ohio received the party's nomination. This satisfied the Reformers and to make the Stalwarts happy, Chester Arthur was picked to be Garfield’s running mate. And since Arthur had a reputation for being honest, the Half-Breeds were also pleased with him. In the General Election, Garfield easily defeated his Democratic opponent, General Winfield Scott Hancock.
James A. Garfield, the Twentieth President, was born 1831 into a poor farm family. Garfield, like Arthur had been a teacher. And before he entered into politics he had served as President of Hiram College. He also gained a reputation as Lay-Minister in the Disciples of Christ. After winning a seat in Congress Garfield received a commission with the Ohio Volunteers where he rose to the rank of General. But after a few months of military service Garfield returned to his seat in Congress.
It is hard to determine what type of President Garfield would have been, because only four months in office he was shot by Stalwart supporter Charles Guiteau. Two and half months later Garfield died, being the second President to die from an assassin’s wound. Garfield was only 49 years old. Chester Arthur, the man who had once been fired by a President, ascended to this office.
As President Arthur gained a reputation for his honesty by signing the Pendelton Act into law. This help establish a Civil Service System that put an end to the spoils system. By signing this Arthur lost the support of the long time political allies, the Stalwarts. Today those wish to seek employment in the Federal Government must pass an examination to considered for a position.
At the Republican National Convention in 1884, Arthur did not receive the Presidential Nomination. He had lost the support of his fellow Stalwarts, and the Half-Breeds did not fully trust him. Despite not getting a full term in his own right, Arthur is remembered as a President who fought against corruption in the Federal government. He died just a few months after leaving the Presidency.
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