This is a study of the political career of George Armistead Smathers Smathers was a United States senator from Florida from 1951 through 1968. Prior to his election to the senate, Smathers served Dade, Collier, and Monroe counties in the House of Representatives from 1947 through 1951. / The focus of this work is Smathers's political career within the framework of the Cold War. His election victories in 1946 and 1950 mirrored, in some aspects foreshadowed, political events throughout the nation during this era. In defeating both Congressman Pat Cannon in 1946 and Senator Claude Pepper in 1950, Smathers victories turned on his ability to change the political landscape. / During both his two terms as congressman and three terms as senator, George Smathers played the role of a quintessential Cold Warrior. An early supporter of the Truman Doctrine, he subscribed fully to the necessity of containment, the domino theory, and assumptions regarding the monolithic nature of communism. These beliefs were most fully played out through his interest in Latin America and his avid backing of the Vietnam War. While his activity in foreign policy alone is of importance, Smathers also had an impact domestically. He was counted among the few southern moderates on civil rights, aiding in the passage of the 1957 Civil Rights Act, though he consistently opposed federal intervention to promote and ensure social or economic equality. / Smathers was part of Senator Lyndon Johnson's "inner circle," which led to powerful posts on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce committee and Finance committee, as well as chairmanship of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. His coordination of the Kennedy-Johnson campaign in the South and his long friendship with John F. Kennedy afforded Smathers uncommon access to the White House beginning in 1961. Long devotion to Lyndon Johnson, and commitment to Johnson's wars both domestically and overseas, ensured Smathers a continued "insider" role up to his retirement in 1969. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-04, Section: A, page: 1807. / Major Professor: C. Peter Ripley. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1996.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77690 |
| Contributors | Crispell, Brian Lewis., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 368 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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