Final answer:
Cecil Gaines, a character based on real-life butler Eugene Allen, likely secured employment at the White House due to his extensive experience and professional demeanor, overcoming the traditional reliance on patronage in the era before civil service reforms like the Pendleton Act emphasized merit.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cecil Gaines is a fictional character based on the real-life White House butler Eugene Allen. In the context of the movie 'The Butler', in which Gaines is portrayed, he gets the job at the White House through a combination of his experience, composure, and the favorable impression he makes during his interview process. After years of working in various sophisticated establishments and refining his skills, Gaines would have positioned himself as an ideal candidate in an environment where patronage and connections were traditionally a path to such positions. However, historical reforms such as the introduction of the Pendleton Civil Service Act aimed to mitigate patronage by introducing competitive exams for certain government jobs, prioritizing merit over connections. While Cecil Gaines' hiring in the film may superficially appear to be an outcome of the spoils system due to his personal presentation to a White House official, it is likely a result of his qualifications and ability to perform with discretion and professionalism in a high-stakes environment.