Work in progress — cycles are added one at a time. Every quote is machine-verified against an archived source; follow the links to read it.
Issues › Civil Service & Administration
Civil service and patronage
| Cycle | Candidate | Position | Solution | Strength | Attribution | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Herbert Hoover (Republican) | Keep the merit system 'unassailable' | Maintain the civil-service merit system as an unassailable part of government. | directional_stance | party_platform | not_applicable |
| 1936 | Alf Landon (Republican) | Restore, improve and extend the merit system 'virtually destroyed by New Deal spoilsmen' | Return the civil service to a merit basis offering permanent careers irrespective of party; remove politicians from administrative jobs. | directional_stance | candidate_direct | not_applicable |
| 1936 | Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic) | Immediately extend the merit system to all non-policy-making federal positions | Bring under the civil service law all continuing positions exempted during the emergency. | specific_pledge | party_platform | partial |