Changes

==Career==

==Career==

After the war, Smathers was elected to serve two terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Florida's 4th congressional district from 1947 to 1951. He established a reputation for being a [[moderate]] but a staunch [[anti-communist]]. In the 1946 Democratic primary, Smathers unseated by a 2-1 margin Representative Arthur Patrick "Pat" Cannon (1904-1966).f over two-to-one. Smathers served two terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]], representing Florida’s Fourth Congressional District from 1947 to 1951. He pushed the Truman administration agenda, especially the [[Truman Doctrine]], designed to rein in the former [[Soviet Union]] and [[communist]] aggression.Smathers sought to designated Miami a gateway to [[Latin America]]n commerce and cultural exchange. Congressman Smathers sponsored legislation to create the [[Everglades National Park]] and supported the [[24th Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which outlawed poll taxes in federal elections. Later states were also required to abolish poll taxes.<ref>Briam Lewis Crispell,  ''Testing the Limits: George Armistead Smathers and Cold War America,'' (Athens: the University of Georgia Press, 1999), pp. 13-37.</ref>

After the war, Smathers was elected to serve two terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Florida's 4th congressional district from 1947 to 1951. He established a reputation for being a [[moderate]] but a staunch [[anti-communist]]. In the 1946 Democratic primary, Smathers unseated by a 2-1 margin Representative Arthur Patrick "Pat" Cannon (1904–1966). Smathers served two terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]], representing Florida’s Fourth Congressional District from 1947 to 1951. He pushed the Truman administration agenda, especially the [[Truman Doctrine]], designed to rein in the former [[Soviet Union]] and [[communist]] aggression. Smathers sought to designated Miami a gateway to [[Latin America]]n commerce and cultural exchange. Congressman Smathers sponsored legislation to create the [[Everglades National Park]] and supported the [[24th Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which outlawed poll taxes in federal elections. Later states were also required to abolish poll taxes.<ref>Briam Lewis Crispell,  ''Testing the Limits: George Armistead Smathers and Cold War America,'' (Athens: the University of Georgia Press, 1999), pp. 13-37.</ref>

President Truman encouraged Representative Smathers to challenge liberal Senator [[Claude Pepper]] in the 1950 Senate Democratic primary. Pepper had acquired Truman's wrath when he tried to block Truman's nomination to a full term as President at the 1948 Democratic National Convention held in [[Philadelphia]]. Truman also invited Smathers to fly with him from [[Washington, D.C.]]  to Key West. Though Pepper, a strong orator, was believed by political observers to have been unbeatable. But Pepper had made himself vulnerable because of his postwar advocacy  of Conciliation to the[[Soviet Union]] and his advocacy of sharing nuclear technology.<ref>James C. Clark,  ''Red Pepper and Gorgeous George: Claude Pepper's Epic Defeat in the 1950 Democratic Primary'' (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011), p. 41-47, 65.</ref> Smathers' campaign attacked Pepper on other fronts besides foreign policy, including the senator's support for [[universal health care]] and his ambiguous position on the Fair Employment Practice Committee, which Franklin Roosevelt had established by executive order in 1941. Ultimately, Smathers won the nomination 397, 315 votes (54.8 percent to Pepper's 319,754 (45.2), a margin of 63,000 votes ; he then prevailed in the November [[general election]] over Republican John P. Booth, 76 to 24 percent.

President Truman encouraged Representative Smathers to challenge liberal Senator [[Claude Pepper]] in the 1950 Senate Democratic primary. Pepper had acquired Truman's wrath when he tried to block Truman's nomination to a full term as President at the 1948 Democratic National Convention held in [[Philadelphia]]. Truman also invited Smathers to fly with him from [[Washington, D.C.]]  to Key West. Though Pepper, a strong orator, was believed by political observers to have been unbeatable. But Pepper had made himself vulnerable because of his postwar advocacy  of Conciliation to the[[Soviet Union]] and his advocacy of sharing nuclear technology.<ref>James C. Clark,  ''Red Pepper and Gorgeous George: Claude Pepper's Epic Defeat in the 1950 Democratic Primary'' (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011), p. 41-47, 65.</ref> Smathers' campaign attacked Pepper on other fronts besides foreign policy, including the senator's support for [[universal health care]] and his ambiguous position on the Fair Employment Practice Committee, which Franklin Roosevelt had established by executive order in 1941. Ultimately, Smathers won the nomination 397, 315 votes (54.8 percent to Pepper's 319,754 (45.2), a margin of 63,000 votes ; he then prevailed in the November [[general election]] over Republican John P. Booth, 76 to 24 percent.

As a senator, Smathers signed the 1954 [[Southern Manifesto]] opposing school [[Segregation|desegregation]] and voted a decade later against the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].  

As a senator, Smathers signed the 1954 [[Southern Manifesto]] opposing school [[Segregation|desegregation]]<ref>[http://www.african-american-civil-rights.org/southern-manifesto/ Southern Manifesto]. ''African American Civil Rights Movement''. Retrieved February 27, 2021.</ref> and voted a decade later against the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409 HR. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 27, 2021.</ref>

In 1971, Smther's wife divorced him and he wed a former Senate staffer, Carolyn Hyder, the same age as his younger son, Bruce. When Smathers retired from politics, he became a lobbyist and successful [[business]]man. In 1991, he gave a $20 million gift to his alma mater, the University of Florida, which funded the university library system named for him. He later also gave a $10 million gift to the University of Miami.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=

In 1971, Smther's wife divorced him and he wed a former Senate staffer, Carolyn Hyder, the same age as his younger son, Bruce. When Smathers retired from politics, he became a lobbyist and successful [[business]]man. In 1991, he gave a $20 million gift to his alma mater, the University of Florida, which funded the university library system named for him. He later also gave a $10 million gift to the University of Miami.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=