President Garfield had been assassinated by a man who believed he should have gotten a government job because of his politics.

VOA: special.2010.04.29

He said he would support reforms to let ability -- not politics -- decide who would get government jobs.

VOA: special.2010.05.06

As president, it was not long before he got into trouble in the battles of politics and government.

VOA: special.2010.02.18