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After completing his law degree in 1939, Smathers married the former Rosemary Townley (1914–2002), a native of Miami, who also lived in several nearby state<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114681196/rosemary-smathers#:~:text=Rosemary Townley Smathers  Birth  ,ID  114681196 · View Source|title=Rosemary Townley Smathers|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 27, 2021}}</ref> The couple settled in Miami, where Smathers was for three years an assistant United States Attorney.  The couple had two sons, John Townley Smathers and Bruce Armistead Smathers, who was a Florida state senator and a Florida secretary of state. In 1942, as the United States entered  [[World War II]], he volunteered for the [[United States Marine Corps]] and served for nineteen months with the Marine Light Bomber Squadron 413  in the South Pacific Theater of Operations. He surviveda crash when his light bomber was damaged in war. Smathers returned to Miami after the war and quickly launched his political career.<ref>Florida, Department of State, Great Floridian Series, – ''George A. Smathers – the Uncommon Man:  Attorney – Statesman - Benefactor'') (1994).</ref>

After completing his law degree in 1939, Smathers married the former Rosemary Townley (1914–2002), a native of Miami, who also lived in several nearby state<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114681196/rosemary-smathers#:~:text=Rosemary Townley Smathers  Birth  ,ID  114681196 · View Source|title=Rosemary Townley Smathers|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 27, 2021}}</ref> The couple settled in Miami, where Smathers was for three years an assistant United States Attorney.  The couple had two sons, John Townley Smathers and Bruce Armistead Smathers, who was a Florida state senator and a Florida secretary of state. In 1942, as the United States entered  [[World War II]], he volunteered for the [[United States Marine Corps]] and served for nineteen months with the Marine Light Bomber Squadron 413  in the South Pacific Theater of Operations. He surviveda crash when his light bomber was damaged in war. Smathers returned to Miami after the war and quickly launched his political career.<ref>Florida, Department of State, Great Floridian Series, – ''George A. Smathers – the Uncommon Man:  Attorney – Statesman - Benefactor'') (1994).</ref>

==Career==

==Political 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). 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>

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> being among the Southern bloc in filibustering the landmark legislation<ref>[https://spartacus-educational.com/USAcivil64.htm 1964 Civil Rights Act]. ''Spartacus Educational''. Retrieved February 27, 2021.</ref> before cloture was enacted by a 71–29 vote.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s302 HR. 7152. MANSFIELD DIRKSEN MOTION THAT THE SENATE INVOKE CLOTURE ON THE SOUTHERN FILIBUSTER.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 27, 2021.</ref> While he previously voted in favor of the [[1957 Civil Rights Act]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 27, 2021.</ref> Smathers supported measures to significantly weaken the bill, including the jury trial amendment.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s73 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. AMENDMENT TO GUARANTEE JURY TRIALS IN ALL CASES OF CRIMINAL CONTEMPT AND PROVIDE UNIFORM METHODS FOR SELECTING FEDERAL COURT JURIES.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 27, 2021.</ref>

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> being among the Southern bloc in filibustering the landmark legislation<ref>[https://spartacus-educational.com/USAcivil64.htm 1964 Civil Rights Act]. ''Spartacus Educational''. Retrieved February 27, 2021.</ref> before cloture was enacted by a 71–29 vote.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s302 HR. 7152. MANSFIELD DIRKSEN MOTION THAT THE SENATE INVOKE CLOTURE ON THE SOUTHERN FILIBUSTER.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 27, 2021.</ref> While he previously voted in favor of the [[1957 Civil Rights Act]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 27, 2021.</ref> Smathers supported measures to significantly weaken the bill, including the jury trial amendment.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s73 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. AMENDMENT TO GUARANTEE JURY TRIALS IN ALL CASES OF CRIMINAL CONTEMPT AND PROVIDE UNIFORM METHODS FOR SELECTING FEDERAL COURT JURIES.]. ''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=

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17602361/george-armistead-smathers|title=George Armistead Smathers|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 27, 2021}}</ref>

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17602361/george-armistead-smathers|title=George Armistead Smathers|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 27, 2021}}</ref>