How did several presidents reform the spoils system?

Reform. By the late 1860s, citizens began demanding civil service reform. ... After each election the outgoing President applied the Pendleton Act to jobs held by his political supporters. By 1900, most federal jobs were handled through civil service and the spoils system was limited only to very senior positions.

Explanation:

special interest groups must step back and let the process work itself out a representative can amend it at several points in the congressional staffers must do homework and report to the floor on what they 've learned

in 1897, pershing became a tactical officer at west point, and that's where he was given the nickname "black jack." pershing's first name is "john," for which "jack" is a nickname, and he was a white man who commanded black troops. hence "black jack".