Reed Smoot papers, 1909-1986

Reed Smoot (1862-1941) was one of Utah's longest serving senators, filling five terms over thirty years from 1903 to 1933. Smoot was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory and later moved with his family to Provo. He attended several schools including the University of Deseret (now University of Utah) and finally graduated from Brigham Young Academy (now Brigham Young University). He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and was called as an apostle in 1900. To the surprise of many, the Utah State Legislature elected Smoot as a United States Senator (Republican party) in 1902. While preparing to take his seat in 1903, several people raised objections to Smoot serving as an apostle and senator at the same time. A bitter four-year battle began with members of the LDS Church being asked to testify before Congressional committees and anti-LDS articles being circulated nationwide. President Theodore Roosevelt, a friend of the LDS Church, tried to influence Congress in allowing Smoot to take his seat. After the Senate was satisfied that Smoot was not a polygamist and that the LDS Church had actually ended the practice, Smoot was allowed to sit in the Senate in 1907. He was reelected in 1908, 1914, 1920, and 1926. In 1930, Smoot helped sponsor the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act which many believe helped push the United States deeper into the Great Depression. In the very next election in 1932, Smoot was unsuccessful and returned to Salt Lake City, continuing on as an apostle in the LDS Church. He died in 1941 while visiting Florida.