Roosevelt, Theodore -- Autobiography, ch. 5 “Applied Idealism” (1913)

Dave — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:15:21 +0000

Under the spoils system a man is appointed to an ordinary clerical or ministerial position in the municipal, Federal, or State government, not primarily because he is expected to be a good servant, but because he has rendered help to some big boss or to the henchman of some big boss. His stay in office depends not upon how he performs service, but upon how he retains his influence in the party. This necessarily means that his attention to the interests of the public at large, even though real, is secondary to his devotion to his organization, or to the interest of the ward leader who put him in his place.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901–1909)
Autobiography, ch. 5 “Applied Idealism” (1913)
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Roosevelt, Theodore -- Autobiography, ch. 5 “Applied Idealism” (1913)