James A. Garfield's presidency lasted only a little more than six months. On July 2, 1881, he was wounded several times by an assassin. Garfield lived for ten more weeks following the shooting, but he never recovered. He died on September 19, 1881.

A supporter of a strong federal government, Garfield wanted to infuse a greater sense of independence and leadership in the presidency. Since the end of the Civil War (1861- 65), the presidency had come to be overshadowed by Congress. Garfield was also especially interested in reforming the civil service system, the jobs under the authority of the federal government. At the time, government appointments were dominated by patronage. In a patronage system, elected officials select only their supporters to hold government jobs. Garfield's efforts in this area were carried on by his successor, Chester A. Arthur (1829-1886; see entry in volume 3). Arthur signed into law a...