Roosevelt 's anti-corruption efforts helped him win re-election in 1882 by a margin greater than two-to-one , an achievement made even more impressive by the fact that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Grover Cleveland won Roosevelt 's district . With Conkling 's Stalwart faction of the Republican Party in disarray following the assassination of President James Garfield , Roosevelt won election as the Republican party leader in the state assembly . He allied with Governor Cleveland to win passage of a civil service reform bill . Roosevelt won re-election a second time , and sought the office of Speaker of the New York State Assembly , but was defeated by Titus Sheard in a 41 to 29 vote of the GOP caucus . In his final term , Roosevelt served as Chairman of the Committee on Affairs of Cities ; he wrote more bills than any other legislator
assassination
Assassination of James A. Garfield
Theodore Roosevelt