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Reed Smoot: Apostle in Politics
Book by Merrill, Milton R.
427 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
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October 31, 2018
All I knew about Reed Smoot was that he was rightwing Republican Senator from Utah who served
from 1903-1933 and was many who were defeated in the Franklin D. Roosevelt landslide in 1932. One
of his firm principles was that the USA should have the highest protective tariff out there. That was
orthodox Republican doctrine back in those days. His name was attached to the Smoot-Hawley tariff
which was the highest ever legislated up to that time. Many economic historians feel that the high
tariff was a contributing factor to the Great Depression and Smoot was cursed to have his name
attached to it. Till the day he died however which was in 1941 he was proud of that tariff.
He represented Utah in the Senate so you figure he was a member of Latter Day Saints Church, a
Mormon. What I didn't know until reading this book was that Smoot was also one of the Twelve
Apostles of the LDS church, the board of directors if you will. Which was a perfect fit for Smoot as
he was a businessman before entering politics. He became one of the Apostles and then went to the
Senate.
Although Utah had been a state since 1897 after the LDS church abolished polygamy when Smoot
was elected there was a serious effort made by Democrats to deny him his seat. Smoot was born in
1862 and was the son of a man who had 5 wives and he came from the third. Smoot himself never
practiced polygamy, but that was enough for some folks to get all roused up. Smoot was seated and was everything you could wish for in a rightwing Republican.
And the church lionized him, as per the title he was the Apostle In Politics. Author Merrill is a member of the LDS church and as per their doctrine non-members of the church are Gentiles.
Smoot served for 12 years with a Gentile colleague George Sutherland (1905-1917) as a Senator from
Utah. They apparently got along. He did not like his Democratic colleague William H. King who
succeeded Sutherland. Party politics ruled there.
Smoot also generally supported positions the rest of his Apostle colleagues had. One very notable
exception was the League Of Nations where the LDS church supported Woodrow Wilson's League
and Smoot was an isolationist. Still the church valued the position of power he was in.
When I learned that he was an Apostle it certainly added a different wrinkle to my view of Reed
Smoot. In a society like the LDS has, how do you as a member vote against one of your religious
leaders? It took a Great Depression and a name attached to some unpopular legislation to do it.
He was defeated by one Elbert Thomas, a Mormon, a Democrat and a general supporter of the New
Deal. Mormons are generally elected in Utah though not always, still it helps. But at the federal
level the Church hasn't one of its ruling heads in office at the same time.
Reed Smoot turned out to be a more fascinating character than I realized.
from 1903-1933 and was many who were defeated in the Franklin D. Roosevelt landslide in 1932. One
of his firm principles was that the USA should have the highest protective tariff out there. That was
orthodox Republican doctrine back in those days. His name was attached to the Smoot-Hawley tariff
which was the highest ever legislated up to that time. Many economic historians feel that the high
tariff was a contributing factor to the Great Depression and Smoot was cursed to have his name
attached to it. Till the day he died however which was in 1941 he was proud of that tariff.
He represented Utah in the Senate so you figure he was a member of Latter Day Saints Church, a
Mormon. What I didn't know until reading this book was that Smoot was also one of the Twelve
Apostles of the LDS church, the board of directors if you will. Which was a perfect fit for Smoot as
he was a businessman before entering politics. He became one of the Apostles and then went to the
Senate.
Although Utah had been a state since 1897 after the LDS church abolished polygamy when Smoot
was elected there was a serious effort made by Democrats to deny him his seat. Smoot was born in
1862 and was the son of a man who had 5 wives and he came from the third. Smoot himself never
practiced polygamy, but that was enough for some folks to get all roused up. Smoot was seated and was everything you could wish for in a rightwing Republican.
And the church lionized him, as per the title he was the Apostle In Politics. Author Merrill is a member of the LDS church and as per their doctrine non-members of the church are Gentiles.
Smoot served for 12 years with a Gentile colleague George Sutherland (1905-1917) as a Senator from
Utah. They apparently got along. He did not like his Democratic colleague William H. King who
succeeded Sutherland. Party politics ruled there.
Smoot also generally supported positions the rest of his Apostle colleagues had. One very notable
exception was the League Of Nations where the LDS church supported Woodrow Wilson's League
and Smoot was an isolationist. Still the church valued the position of power he was in.
When I learned that he was an Apostle it certainly added a different wrinkle to my view of Reed
Smoot. In a society like the LDS has, how do you as a member vote against one of your religious
leaders? It took a Great Depression and a name attached to some unpopular legislation to do it.
He was defeated by one Elbert Thomas, a Mormon, a Democrat and a general supporter of the New
Deal. Mormons are generally elected in Utah though not always, still it helps. But at the federal
level the Church hasn't one of its ruling heads in office at the same time.
Reed Smoot turned out to be a more fascinating character than I realized.
Displaying 1 of 1 review