The spoils system, which rewarded political supporters with government jobs, played a role in President James Garfield's assassination by a disgruntled office-seeker. Garfield's successor, Chester A. Arthur, was himself a beneficiary of the spoils system and had initially been appointed Collector of the Port of New York due to his political connections. However, after Garfield's assassination, Arthur pushed for civil service reform and eventually signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act which mandated merit-based appointments. The spoils system ultimately led to significant changes in how government jobs were filled and helped pave the way for a more professional and efficient civil service system.
