Teddy’s Hiring Practices

Of all the brilliant accomplishments of President Theodore Roosevelt, a few executive orders probably aren’t among them.

Teddy liked to issue official positions to candidates who were less than qualified. They were usually people he knew personally who had no experience in civil service.

Two of the more notable orders were for Dr. William L. Ralph to become “curator of the section of birds’ eggs in the National Museum, at a salary of $100 per month,” and for Mrs. Roy L. Quackenbush to become a permanent clerk at the post office.