1939
Thanks to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, the federal work force grows, and now includes thousands of people in federal public works programs. Fearing the rise of a new spoils system, Congress passes the Hatch Act, which bans the solicitation of political donations from federal employees and prohibits them from playing an active role in political campaigns.
SOURCE: “Delayed Hatch,” Time, June 26, 1939.
Previous year: 1970
Previous election year: 1948 - Truman vs. Dewey
Next year: 1962
Next election year: 1940 - Roosevelt vs. Wilkie