Reed Smoot (January 10, 1862 – February 9, 1941) was a prominent American politician, religious leader, and businessman. Elected to the United States Senate from Utah, he served from 1903 until 1933. As a national legislator he became widely known for co-sponsoring the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, and as a religious figure he served as an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His dual roles in politics and religion produced controversy, public debate, and a lengthy Senate inquiry that made him a focal point of early 20th‑century public life.

Early life and church leadership

Smoot rose to church leadership at the turn of the 20th century when he was ordained an apostle and became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In that capacity he was a visible representative of the LDS Church's hierarchy as the community negotiated its place in American civic life. Alongside his ecclesiastical responsibilities he pursued business interests that tied him to Utah's commercial development. His affiliation with the church is a central element of his public identity and was repeatedly cited during later political controversies. For background on his religious role see LDS Church leadership.

Senate career and the Smoot–Hawley Tariff

As a member of the Republican Party, Smoot served five full terms in the Senate. He became influential on trade and tariff matters as a senior legislator. The Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which he co-sponsored, raised many U.S. import duties and sought to protect domestic industries. Economists and historians later debated the law's effects; many argue that retaliatory tariffs by other countries contributed to a deeper global economic contraction during the Great Depression. Smoot's sponsorship of the bill remains one of the principal reasons he is remembered in American political history.

The Senate investigation: questions and outcome

Smoot's simultaneous status as a national lawmaker and an LDS apostle prompted a protracted investigation by the United States Senate into whether his church position or beliefs rendered him unfit for office. The proceedings — often referred to collectively as the Reed Smoot hearings — examined allegations ranging from continued polygamy among church members to supposed secret oaths that critics claimed conflicted with civil allegiance. Rumors and testimony about polygamy and other practices were aired publicly, intensifying scrutiny of both Smoot personally and the church more broadly. A Senate committee at one point recommended action against him, but after years of hearings the full Senate voted to allow Smoot to retain his seat and continue serving. For more on the controversy see the controversy, the role of the Senate in such inquiries, and discussions about polygamy and the Reed Smoot hearings.

Later years and legacy

Defeated for re-election in 1932, Smoot left the Senate at the start of 1933 and returned to Utah to focus on church duties and personal affairs. He spent his remaining years concentrating on ecclesiastical responsibilities rather than electoral politics and at the time of his death was high in church seniority — described in contemporary accounts as third in line to lead the LDS Church. His public legacy is mixed: he is remembered for his central role in a major tariff law that shaped U.S. economic policy and for the high-profile examination of church-state questions that his career provoked. Those interested in his life can consult biographical and historical sources for detailed timelines and primary documents.

Notable facts

  • Served as U.S. Senator from Utah, 1903–1933.
  • Ordained an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church in 1900; active in church leadership thereafter (LDS Church).
  • Co-sponsor of the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act (1930), a landmark trade law with long-term economic consequences.
  • Subject of the Reed Smoot hearings, a major early 20th-century Senate investigation into church influence and alleged practices (hearings, controversy).
  • Returned to Utah after leaving the Senate in 1933 and continued church service there (Utah).

Reed Smoot remains a study in overlapping public roles: a faith leader whose religious office intersected with national lawmaking, and a legislator whose economic initiatives had national and international repercussions. His life illustrates how religious affiliation and political authority were negotiated in the United States during a period of rapid social and economic change.