Reed Smoot

Reed Smoot (January 10, 1862 – February 9, 1941) was an American politician, businessman, and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who represented Utah in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate for three decades. Elected to the House in 1902 and the Senate in 1903, Smoot became one of Utah's most influential and controversial political figures of the early 20th century. His name became permanently linked to the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which he co-authored with Representative Willis Hawley. Intended to protect American farmers and manufacturers, the tariff raised import duties to record levels, inadvertently triggering massive retaliation from trading partners and exacerbating the economic collapse of the Great Depression. Economists and historians largely hold Smoot-Hawley responsible for deepening and prolonging the Depression, making the tariff one of the most criticized pieces of U.S. legislation ever enacted. Despite this infamy, Smoot remained influential in Utah politics and served until his defeat in 1932 during the Depression's darkest years. His legacy serves as a cautionary tale about protectionist economic policies and unintended consequences of legislation.