Changes

In 1931, Ted Collins (1900-1964), a vice president of Columbia Records,  became her full-time manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/05/28/archives/ted-collins-business-manager-for-kate-smith-30-years-dies-announcer.html|title=Ted Collins, Business Manager for Kate Smith 30 Years, Dies; Announcer and Producer, 64, Led Singer to Popularity on Radio, TV and Disks|publisher=''The New York Times''|page=37|date=May 28, 1964|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref> She attributed Collins with her overcoming self-consciousness about her weight, believed to have been as much as 225 pounds.  Her first release with Collins was  "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Her other songs were "River, Stay 'Way from My Door" (1931), "The Woodpecker Song" (1940), "The White Cliffs of Dover"  (1941), "Rose O'Day" (1941), "Seems Like Old Times" (1946), and "Now Is the Hour"  (1947). "Rose O'Day" was her first selection to sell a million records.​ Her theme song was "When the Moon Comes over the Mountain." Her career was in decline  until "God Bless America" was released in 1938, and she was cast with [[Ronald Reagan]] in the 1943 film, ''This Is the Army.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Book-Golden-Discs-Joseph-Murrells/dp/0214204804|title=The Book of Golden Discs, Vol. 2|page=26|date=1978|author=Joseph Murrells|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins ([[London]], [[England]] through Amazon.com|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref>

In 1931, Ted Collins (1900-1964), a vice president of Columbia Records,  became her full-time manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/05/28/archives/ted-collins-business-manager-for-kate-smith-30-years-dies-announcer.html|title=Ted Collins, Business Manager for Kate Smith 30 Years, Dies; Announcer and Producer, 64, Led Singer to Popularity on Radio, TV and Disks|publisher=''The New York Times''|page=37|date=May 28, 1964|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref> She attributed Collins with her overcoming self-consciousness about her weight, believed to have been as much as 225 pounds.  Her first release with Collins was  "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Her other songs were "River, Stay 'Way from My Door" (1931), "The Woodpecker Song" (1940), "The White Cliffs of Dover"  (1941), "Rose O'Day" (1941), "Seems Like Old Times" (1946), and "Now Is the Hour"  (1947). "Rose O'Day" was her first selection to sell a million records.​ Her theme song was "When the Moon Comes over the Mountain." Her career was in decline  until "God Bless America" was released in 1938, and she was cast with [[Ronald Reagan]] in the 1943 film, ''This Is the Army.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Book-Golden-Discs-Joseph-Murrells/dp/0214204804|title=The Book of Golden Discs, Vol. 2|page=26|date=1978|author=Joseph Murrells|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins ([[London]], [[England]] through Amazon.com|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref>

In 1938, Smith published a book, ''Living in a Great Big Way,''<ref>New York: Blue Ribbon Books.</ref>

In 1938, Smith published a book, ''Living in a Great Big Way.''<ref>New York: Blue Ribbon Books.</ref>

   

   

Smith hosted and sang on several daytime radio and television programs. From 1950 to 1954, [[NBC]] aired a daily afternoon variety show, "The Kate Smith Hour," and then a prime time program on Wednesdays,  "The Kate Smith Evening Hour." From January 25 to July 18, 1960, Smith hosted her final television series, ''The Kate Smith Show,'' on [[CBS]] on Monday evenings<ref>Alex McNeil, "Total Television'' (New York City: Penguin Books, 1996), 4th ed. pp. 446–447.</ref> Smith also did commercials for such companies as  Studebaker, Diamond Crystal Salt,  and General Foods'  Jell-O.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://graphic-design.tjs-labs.com/gallery-view?keyword=KATE%20SMITH&match=EXACT|title=She's America's First Lady of the Airways|publisher=Graphic-design.ths-labs.com|accessdate=une 18, 2020}}</ref>

Smith hosted and sang on several daytime radio and television programs. From 1950 to 1954, [[NBC]] aired a daily afternoon variety show, "The Kate Smith Hour," and then a prime time program on Wednesdays,  "The Kate Smith Evening Hour." From January 25 to July 18, 1960, Smith hosted her final television series, ''The Kate Smith Show,'' on [[CBS]] on Monday evenings<ref>Alex McNeil, "Total Television'' (New York City: Penguin Books, 1996), 4th ed. pp. 446–447.</ref> Smith also did commercials for such companies as  Studebaker, Diamond Crystal Salt,  and General Foods'  Jell-O.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://graphic-design.tjs-labs.com/gallery-view?keyword=KATE%20SMITH&match=EXACT|title=She's America's First Lady of the Airways|publisher=Graphic-design.ths-labs.com|accessdate=une 18, 2020}}</ref>

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan awarded Smith the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an honor first established by President [[Harry Truman]]. At the ceremony,[[Republican Party|Republican]] then n [[U.S. Senator]] [[Jesse Helms]], a Smith admirer and her fellow resident of Raleigh, knelt by her wheelchair and held her hand. Reagan said that:  

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan awarded Smith the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an honor first established by President [[Harry Truman]]. At the ceremony,[[Republican Party|Republican]] then n [[U.S. Senator]] [[Jesse Helms]], a Smith admirer and her fellow resident of Raleigh, knelt by her wheelchair and held her hand. Reagan said that:  

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

The voice of Kate Smith is known and loved by millions of Americans, young and old. In war and peace, it has been an inspiration. Those simple but deeply moving words, 'God bless America,' have taken on added meaning for all of us because of the way Kate Smith sang them. Thanks to her they have become a cherished part of all our lives, an undying reminder of the beauty, the courage and the heart of this great land of ours. In giving us a magnificent, selfless talent like Kate Smith, God has truly blessed America. patriot in every sense of the word. She thrilled us all with her stirring rendition of 'God Bless America'  and sang with a passion which left few eyes dry. …<ref name=nyt/></blockquote>

The voice of Kate Smith is known and loved by millions of Americans, young and old. In war and peace, it has been an inspiration. Those simple but deeply moving words, 'God bless America,' have taken on added meaning for all of us because of the way Kate Smith sang them. Thanks to her they have become a cherished part of all our lives, an undying reminder of the beauty, the courage and the heart of this great land of ours. In giving us a magnificent, selfless talent like Kate Smith, God has truly blessed America. patriot in every sense of the word. She thrilled us all with her stirring rendition of 'God Bless America'  and sang with a passion which left few eyes dry. <ref name=medaloffreedom>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/10/26/Kate-Smith-gets-Medal-of-Freedom/2860404452800/|title=Kate Smith gets Medal of Freedom|publisher=UPI Archives|date=October 26, 1982|author=Craig Webb|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref></blockquote>  

<ref name=medaloffreedom/>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/10/26/Kate-Smith-gets-Medal-of-Freedom/2860404452800/|title=Kate Smith gets Medal of Freedom|publisher=UPI Archives|date=October 26, 1982|author=Craig Webb|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref></blockquote>  

Smith's sister, Helena Mask Smith Steene (1904-1994),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175369185/helena-mask-steene|title=Helena Mask Smith Steene|publisher=Finadagrave.com|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref> called her  "one of the greatest people I have ever known. She has always lived for her country."<ref name=medaloffreedom/> The [[communist]] ''[[Daily Worker]]'' referred to Smith as "Kate the red-baiter" and "Kate the distorter of Communist policy."<ref name=nyt/>

Smith's sister, Helena Mask Smith Steene (1904-1994),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175369185/helena-mask-steene|title=Helena Mask Smith Steene|publisher=Finadagrave.com|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref> called her  "one of the greatest people I have ever known. She has always lived for her country."<ref name=medaloffreedom/> The [[communist]] ''[[Daily Worker]]'' referred to Smith as "Kate the red-baiter" and "Kate the distorter of Communist policy."<ref name=nyt/>