Chester A. Arthur vs Jan P. Syse

Arthur became the 21st president upon Garfield's death. His ascension was marked by a desire to distance himself from the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party, which had supported him as vice president.

Arthur vetoed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which would have banned Chinese immigration for 20 years. He argued it violated the Burlingame Treaty. Congress later passed a revised version with a 10-year ban, which Arthur signed.

Arthur signed the Pendleton Act into law, establishing a merit-based system for federal employment. The act created the Civil Service Commission and required competitive exams for many government positions, reducing the influence of patronage and political machines.

On October 16, 1989, Syse became Prime Minister, leading a three-party coalition government of the Conservative Party, Christian Democratic Party, and Centre Party. His tenure was brief, lasting only one year.

Syse's coalition government collapsed in November 1990 over disagreements on European Economic Area (EEA) negotiations. The Centre Party opposed closer ties with the European Community, leading to Syse's resignation after just 13 months.

Syse's government was involved in negotiating the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement, which allowed Norway to participate in the EU's single market without full membership. The negotiations were contentious and contributed to his government's collapse.

Syse died suddenly of a heart attack on September 17, 1997, while serving as a member of the Storting (parliament). His death was unexpected and occurred during a parliamentary session, shocking the Norwegian political establishment.