Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

During his tenure in the state Senate, Smith vigorously opposed the Maine [[Ku Klux Klan]] as well as Gov. Ralph Owen Brewster, who had no record of public racist bigotry yet nonetheless refused to denounce the KKK.<ref>Burnham, Emily (July 6, 2020). [https://bangordailynews.com/2020/07/06/arts-culture/this-maine-governor-never-publicly-embraced-the-klan-but-he-never-disavowed-its-support/ This Maine governor never publicly embraced the Klan, but he never disavowed its support]. ''Bangor Daily News''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref>

During his tenure in the state Senate, Smith vigorously opposed the Maine [[Ku Klux Klan]]<ref name=fascinatingpolitics>FascinatingPolitics (October 18, 2020). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2020/10/18/the-true-senate-female-firsts-hattie-caraway-margaret-chase-smith-and-maurine-neuberger/ The True Senate Female Firsts: Hattie Caraway, Margaret Chase Smith, and Maurine Neuberger]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> as well as Gov. Ralph Owen Brewster, who had no record of public racist bigotry yet nonetheless refused to denounce the KKK.<ref>Burnham, Emily (July 6, 2020). [https://bangordailynews.com/2020/07/06/arts-culture/this-maine-governor-never-publicly-embraced-the-klan-but-he-never-disavowed-its-support/ This Maine governor never publicly embraced the Klan, but he never disavowed its support]. ''Bangor Daily News''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref>

===U.S. House of Representatives===

===U.S. House of Representatives===

Consistent with his opposition to the Klan, Smith voted for the [[anti-lynching bill]]s of 1937<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/h27 TO PASS H. R. 1507, AN ANTI-LYNCHING BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> and 1940,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/76-3/h96 TO PASS H.R. 801, A BILL TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIME.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> respectively the Gavagan-Wagner Act and the Gavagan-Fish Act.

Consistent with his opposition to the Klan, Smith voted for the [[anti-lynching bill]]s of 1937<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/h27 TO PASS H. R. 1507, AN ANTI-LYNCHING BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> and 1940,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/76-3/h96 TO PASS H.R. 801, A BILL TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIME.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> respectively the Gavagan-Wagner Act and the Gavagan-Fish Act. He was also considered a [[conservative]] by ideology overall.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

Smith died in office on August 8, 1940, prior to which he advocated the congressional district's constituents to elect his wife, the former Margaret Chase, to the House seat:<ref name=history.house.gov/>

Smith died in office on August 8, 1940, prior to which he advocated the congressional district's constituents to elect his wife, the former Margaret Chase, to the House seat:<ref name=history.house.gov/>

{{cquote|I know of no one else who has the full knowledge of my ideas and plans or is as well qualified as she is, to carry on these ideas or my unfinished work for the district.}}

{{cquote|I know of no one else who has the full knowledge of my ideas and plans or is as well qualified as she is, to carry on these ideas or my unfinished work for the district.}}

Margaret Chase Smith won the special election and later was elected to the [[United States Senate]], where she was known for being a foe of [[Joseph McCarthy]], who exposed communist infiltration of the [[State Department]] and the [[U.S. Army]]. She established a reputation as a [[Moderate Republican]] while her late husband was considered a [[conservative]].<ref>FascinatingPolitics (October 18, 2020). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2020/10/18/the-true-senate-female-firsts-hattie-caraway-margaret-chase-smith-and-maurine-neuberger/ The True Senate Female Firsts: Hattie Caraway, Margaret Chase Smith, and Maurine Neuberger]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref>

Margaret Chase Smith won the special election and later was elected to the [[United States Senate]], where she was known for being a foe of [[Joseph McCarthy]], who exposed communist infiltration of the [[State Department]] and the [[U.S. Army]]. She established a reputation as a [[Moderate Republican]] while her late husband was considered a [[conservative]].<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

==References==

==References==