After Credentials 17 years ago
In 2008 there were essentially three real candidates for president of the US: one had degrees from Wellesley and then Yale Law, one was a third-generation Annapolis man, the winner had been editor of the Harvard Law Review. I guess one could argue that the US counts as a large organization.
In Trollope's autobiography you will find an interesting defense of patronage as against the then examination system for the British civil service.