Willis Smith (December 19, 1887 – June 26, 1953) was an American attorney and DemocraticU.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1950 and 1953.
Born in Norfolk Virginia, he moved to North Carolina before age 2. After graduating from Trinity College (now the undergraduate liberal arts college of Duke University) in 1910 and Duke University Law School in 1912, he became a practicing attorney—but interrupted his work to serve in the United States Army during World War I. In 1912, he founded the law firm that eventually became known as Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan (informally "Smith Anderson").[1]
In the Democratic primary of 1950, Smith defeated incumbent Sen. Frank Porter Graham for the nomination. Graham had been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of J. Melville Broughton and had served only a little over a year at the time of his defeat. In a campaign distinguished by race-baiting,[4] Graham, who was well known for his civil rights sympathies, was supported by President Harry Truman and the state's liberal Democratic faction, while Smith was aided by strategist Jesse Helms.
Smith's service in the Senate was brief and unremarkable.[according to whom?]
willis, smith, december, 1887, june, 1953, american, attorney, democratic, senator, from, state, north, carolina, between, 1950, 1953, united, states, senatorfrom, north, carolinain, office, november, 1950, june, 1953preceded, byfrank, grahamsucceeded, byalton. Willis Smith December 19 1887 June 26 1953 was an American attorney and Democratic U S senator from the state of North Carolina between 1950 and 1953 Willis SmithUnited States Senatorfrom North CarolinaIn office November 27 1950 June 26 1953Preceded byFrank P GrahamSucceeded byAlton LennonMember of the North Carolina House of RepresentativesIn office 1927 1932Personal detailsBorn 1887 12 19 December 19 1887Norfolk Virginia U S DiedJune 26 1953 1953 06 26 aged 65 Bethesda Maryland U S Resting placeHistoric Oakwood Cemetery Raleigh North CarolinaPolitical partyDemocraticAlma materTrinity CollegeProfessionLaw Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Political career 3 Death 4 See also 5 ReferencesEarly life and education editBorn in Norfolk Virginia he moved to North Carolina before age 2 After graduating from Trinity College now the undergraduate liberal arts college of Duke University in 1910 and Duke University Law School in 1912 he became a practicing attorney but interrupted his work to serve in the United States Army during World War I In 1912 he founded the law firm that eventually became known as Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell amp Jernigan informally Smith Anderson 1 Political career editSmith served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1927 to 1932 and was briefly the speaker of that body in 1931 2 He also served as a U S observer at the Nuremberg Trials in 1946 as chairman of the American delegation to the Inter Parliamentary Union in Bern Switzerland in 1952 as chairman of the Duke University board of trustees 1947 1953 and as president of the American Bar Association 1945 1946 3 In the Democratic primary of 1950 Smith defeated incumbent Sen Frank Porter Graham for the nomination Graham had been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of J Melville Broughton and had served only a little over a year at the time of his defeat In a campaign distinguished by race baiting 4 Graham who was well known for his civil rights sympathies was supported by President Harry Truman and the state s liberal Democratic faction while Smith was aided by strategist Jesse Helms Smith s service in the Senate was brief and unremarkable according to whom Death editHe died due to coronary thrombosis in 1953 in Bethesda Maryland 5 and was interred at the Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh North Carolina nbsp Campaign flyer for Willis Smith for Senate in the 1950 US Senate race in North Carolina See also editList of United States Congress members who died in office 1950 99 References edit Smith Anderson A History of Excellence Smithlaw com 2008 04 26 Archived from the original on 2012 03 02 Retrieved 2012 12 07 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Bioguide congress gov 1953 06 26 Retrieved 2012 12 07 NORTH CAROLINA Next in Line Time 1950 05 15 Archived from the original on November 5 2012 Retrieved 2012 12 07 The 1950 Senate campaign North Carolina Digital History Learnnc org 1999 02 22 Retrieved 2012 12 07 Senator Willis Smith Dies after Three Day Illness Burlington Daily Times Burlington North Carolina Page 1 June 26 1953 Party political offices Preceded byJ Melville Broughton Democratic nominee for U S Senator from North Carolina Class 2 1950 Succeeded byW Kerr Scott Preceded byAlexander H Graham Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives1931 Succeeded byReginald L Harris U S Senate Preceded byFrank Porter Graham U S senator Class 2 from North Carolina1950 1953 Served alongside Clyde Roark Hoey Succeeded byAlton Asa Lennon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willis Smith amp oldid 1206763331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
