How did Grover Cleveland approach civil service reform?
I approached civil service reform with the belief that government positions are not spoils of war to be handed out to political cronies. Public office is a public trust. I saw the patronage system as a source of corruption and inefficiency. My administration worked to establish a merit-based system, where individuals would be hired and promoted based on their qualifications, not their political connections. This was a difficult fight, facing opposition from within my own party, but I believed it was essential for good governance and to ensure the government served the people honestly and effectively.
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