1880s US Politics

	The 1880s
		1880s CE

1880 Hayes kept pledge to serve only one term.	1881 James Garfield 1st Lady: Lucretia Shot on July 12 while entering a Washington railroad station. A disappointed office-seeker in Garfield's new administration, Charles J. Guiteau, shouted "I am a 'Stalwart' and Arthur is president now" after shooting the president.
1882 Cherster Arthur 1st Lady: Ellen Vetoed the Chinese Exclusion Bill as well as a "pork barrel" appropriation for river and harbor improvement. Was overridden by Congress on each of the two measures.	1883 The Pendleton Civil Service Act, a major reform of federal civil service, was signed into law on January 16. Tariff reform legislation and the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Bill, aimed at the Mormons in Utah, also passed.
1884 With major railroads reaching the Pacific Coast, westward settlement came into full swing. Defeated for the Republican presidential nomination by James G. Blaine.	1885 Grover Cleveland 1st Lady: Frances
1886 Dedicated the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor on October 28.	1887 Interstate Commerce Act, the first major federal program to regulate railroads and private business, was adopted. Tenure of Office Act was repealed.
1888 Lost election for second term to Benjamin Harrison, despite garnering a larger popular vote.	1889 Benjamin Harrison 1st Lady: Caroline

1880s