The Pendleton Act provided that federal government jobs be awarded on the basis of merit and that government employees be selected through competitive exams. The act also made it unlawful to fire or demote for political reasons employees who were covered by the law. The law further forbade requiring employees to give political service or contributions. The Civil Service Commission was established to enforce this act. The act served the nation well, and was never questioned until Trump.

James Garfield, but yes. Chester A. Arthur doesn’t get a lot of credit, but he was our first good “accidental president”