Changes

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 the latter'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. Although Pepper, a strong orator, was believed by political observers to have been unbeatable, he 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 with 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 the latter'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. Although Pepper, a strong orator, was believed by political observers to have been unbeatable, he 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 with 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]]<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>

==Post-Senate life==

==Post-Senate life==