I stand corrected. In addition to your comments.

I'm going to take Washington's own words and the fact that John Adams had similar sentiment to his thought process (obliquely) about how he went about picking his 4 cabinet members:

"No man, I believe, has influence with the President. He seeks information from all quarters, and judges more independently than any man I ever knew."

- John Adams

"I have no conception of a more delicate task than that which is imposed by the Constitution on the Executive. It is the nature of Republicans, who are nearly in a state of equality, to be extremely jealous as to the disposal of all honorary or lucrative appointments.'

- Washington

'My political conduct in nominations ... must be exceedingly circumspect and proof against just criticism, for the eyes of Argus [the hundred-eyed guardian of the Greek gods] are upon me, and no slip will pass unnoticed that can be Improved into a supposed partiality for friends or relations.'

- Washington