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The president most associated with the "spoils system" is Andrew Jackson. The spoils system refers to the practice of a political party giving government jobs to its supporters, friends, and relatives as a reward for working toward victory in an election. Jackson, who served as president from 1829 to 1837, was a strong proponent of this system. He believed that political loyalty was essential for effective governance and argued that the government should be open to ordinary citizens rather than being the domain of a privileged elite.

During Jackson's presidency, he infamously removed many federal employees from their positions and replaced them with his own supporters, a practice he justified by stating that it was necessary to democratize the government. This approach was a significant departure from the previous norms and established a precedent that many subsequent presidents would follow, thus embedding the spoils system in American political practice. This reflects Jackson's commitment to the principle of populism and the belief that ordinary citizens should have a role in government.