Zachary Karabell examined Chester Alan Arthur, who was propelled into the presidency by the assassination of James Garfield and turned his back on the patronage system that had nurtured him. Mr. Karabell argued that in creating a professional civil service he set America on a course toward even greater reforms in the decades to come. Mr. Karabell responded to questions from members of the audience at the Kansas City Public Library in Kansas City, Missouri. The event is part of the “Hail to the Chiefs” series on the American Presidency co-presented by the Kansas City Public Library and the Truman Library Institute and co-sponsored by KCUR’s “Up to Date.”