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 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.<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=