Reed Smoot

Reed Smoot was a prominent United States Senator from Utah, serving from 1903 to 1933. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and played a significant role in the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act alongside Hawley, Willis C.. Smoot's life and career were marked by his association with notable figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Herbert Hoover. His tenure in the United States Senate was also influenced by events like the Spanish-American War and the Great Depression.

● Early Life and Education

Reed Smoot was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Abraham Owen Smoot and Anne Kirstine Mauritzen. He grew up in a family of Latter-day Saints and was educated at Brigham Young Academy, now known as Brigham Young University. Smoot later attended George Washington University and was admitted to the Utah State Bar. His early life was shaped by his interactions with prominent Mormon leaders, including Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith. Smoot's education and upbringing had a significant impact on his future career, particularly in his involvement with the Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Commerce under Herbert Hoover.

● Career

Before entering politics, Smoot worked as a banker and a businessman in Utah. He was involved with several companies, including the Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution and the Utah Sugar Company. Smoot's career was also influenced by his association with notable businessmen like John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan. His experience in the business world prepared him for his future role in shaping tariff policies, particularly the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which was signed into law by Herbert Hoover. Smoot's work on the tariff was also influenced by his interactions with other politicians, including Nelson Aldrich and Sereno E. Payne.

● Political Career

Smoot's political career began when he was elected as a United States Senator from Utah in 1903. He served in the United States Senate for thirty years, working alongside notable senators like Henry Cabot Lodge, Theodore Burton, and Robert M. La Follette. Smoot was a member of the Republican Party and played a key role in shaping the party's tariff policies. He was also involved in the Federal Reserve System and worked with Federal Reserve officials like Benjamin Strong and Charles Sumner Hamlin. Smoot's political career was marked by his association with significant events, including the First World War and the Roaring Twenties.

● Controversies and Legacy

Smoot's career was not without controversy, particularly surrounding the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. The tariff was criticized by many, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, who argued that it exacerbated the Great Depression. Smoot's association with the tariff has been the subject of much debate among economists, including John Maynard Keynes and Milton Friedman. Despite the controversy, Smoot remained a prominent figure in Utah politics and was respected by his colleagues, including George W. Norris and Robert A. Taft. Smoot's legacy continues to be felt in the world of trade policy, with many experts, including those at the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund, still studying the effects of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.

● Personal Life

Smoot was married to Alpha M. Eldredge and had six children. He was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a missionary in England before his political career. Smoot's personal life was marked by his association with notable Mormon leaders, including Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay. He was also a close friend of J. Reuben Clark, who served as the United States Ambassador to Mexico under Herbert Hoover. Smoot's personal life and career were influenced by his interactions with other notable figures, including Thomas S. Monson and Gordon B. Hinckley. Category:United States Senators from Utah