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A Guide to the George A. Smathers Papers

 

Finding aid created by John Nemmers, Jess Campbell, Nicole Milano, Alex Rudnick, and Katie Walters

University of Florida Smathers Libraries - Special and Area Studies Collections
August 2007

 

George A. Smathers

Descriptive Summary

Provenance: Smathers, George A. (George Armistead), 1913-2007
Title: George A. Smathers Papers
Dates: 1934-1969
Abstract: The papers of George A. Smathers (Democrat - Florida) documenting his service in the U.S. Senate.
Extent: 165 linear feet. (330 boxes)
Identification: Ms 91


Biographical/Historical Note

George Armistead Smathers was born on November 14, 1913 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Because his family had a lengthy history of political involvement, Smathers was groomed for politics at an early age. He was named for his father’s uncle, George H. Smathers, who had served as the President of the North Carolina State Senate. His father, Benjamin Franklin Smathers, began his political career as a page for that uncle and later was appointed as a county judge. Additionally, Benjamin’s younger brother, Bill, served as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey from 1937-1943.

Smathers moved with his parents to Miami, Florida, when he was six. He grew up in Magnolia Park, and was successful in both academics and sports while a pupil in Dade County Public Schools. He graduated in the top quarter of his class at Miami High School and served as the captain of the track and basketball teams. He was elected Senior Class President and named Outstanding Athlete of Dade County in 1931. He hoped to play college football at the University of Illinois, but his father refused, arguing that if George was to enter politics he needed to attend the University of Florida in order to meet boys from all over Florida who were enrolled at the state university. At UF, Smathers was the captain of both the basketball and track teams, and played a short-lived football career. He also was the captain of the debate team, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, president of the student body, and campus manager for Claude Pepper’s 1938 Senate reelection campaign.

Smathers graduated with a law degree in 1938, and returned home to Miami. He practiced law for six months in his father’s firm before he was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney. He was married in 1939 to Rosemary Townley, who gave birth to their first son, John, in 1941. During World War II Smathers served in the United States Marine Corps from 1942-45, including an 18-month rotation overseas in the South Pacific. His second son, Bruce, was born in 1943 while Smathers was overseas.

In 1946, Smathers was elected as a Democrat to the first of two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating long-standing incumbent Pat Cannon. While in the House, Smathers traveled extensively to Europe and Latin America, developing an interest in Latin American countries that would later become a central focus of his Senatorial career. Smathers also became friends with many people who would become prominent politicians, including John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald Ford. He became particularly close to Kennedy; they had adjacent offices while in the House together, and he served as a groomsman in Kennedy’s wedding to Jacqueline Bouvier.

Smathers ran for the U.S. Senate in 1950 in a historic race against the incumbent, Claude Pepper. The 1950 Democratic primary election has long been considered one of the “dirtiest” campaigns in U.S. history because of the mudslinging and character attacks carried out by both sides. Smathers pitted his conservative politics and youthful good looks against Pepper’s New Deal liberalism, attacking his former mentor relentlessly on his voting record, foreign policy ideas, his pro-Labor stance, and even suggesting that he had communist ties. Smathers also criticized Pepper heavily for his support of Civil Rights legislation and his support of universal healthcare, which cost him the support of Florida’s segregationists and the medical profession. Smathers and the other anti-Pepper groups continually labeled Pepper as “Red Pepper.” Exemplifying the dirty nature of the campaign, it was widely reported that Smathers gave a speech in which he misrepresented Pepper’s character by using language that might sound negative to uneducated voters. For example, he reportedly stated that Pepper was known to be a “shameless extrovert” and that Pepper had previously practiced “nepotism.” Smathers denied ever making the infamous speech, even offering a reward to any one who could prove it, and most historians agree that the speech was probably a bit of fiction created by reporters trying to capture the mean-spirited nature of the campaign in a humorous manner. Smathers defeated Pepper handily and entered the Senate in 1951.

Smathers served as the junior Senator from Florida for three terms until his retirement in 1968. Throughout his Senatorial career, he was recognized for his involvement with Latin American and Cuban issues. Smathers is credited as one of the first to push for U.S. involvement in Latin American countries as a preventative measure for stopping the spread of communism into the Western Hemisphere. He also was one of the first to raise alarms about Fidel Castro’s government and Cuba’s ties to the Soviet Union. Smathers sought to provide aid for the improvement of the infrastructure and quality of life in Latin American and Caribbean countries, arguing that their well-being and stability was beneficial to the U.S.

Although he was more moderate in many respects than other Southern Democrats, and despite his close friendships with Kennedy and other northern Democrats, Smathers did vote faithfully with the Southern bloc on most of the divisive social issues in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1956, Smathers signed the so-called "Southern Manifesto," which denounced the U.S. Supreme Court decision to integrate public schools racially. He voted consistently against meaningful civil rights legislation, and spoke in favor of segregation and states rights.

Smathers was known to friends and opponents as “Gorgeous George,” and he was known as much for his ability to make friends and connections as he was for his work on the floor of the Senate. Although he was not a high-ranking member of any of the major Senate committees during this service, Smathers was successful in using his positions on committees such as Foreign Relations, Finance and Taxation, and Commerce to protect and expand Florida interests. He was a powerful advocate for the Florida sugar and citrus industries, particularly pertaining to trade and competition with Latin America. Smathers also served as chair of the Democratic Campaign Committee. In this capacity, he traveled around the country soliciting contributions to be used for various Senatorial campaigns.

During the 1960 presidential election, Smathers was placed in an interesting position when his majority leader in the Senate, Johnson, and his best friend in the Senate, Kennedy, both decided to run. Rather than having the two men potentially split the Florida vote, Smathers urged both men not to campaign in Florida and he entered the race as a candidate for the nomination. He was named as Florida’s “favorite son” and received the votes of the Florida delegation at the National Democratic Convention during the first round of voting. When it became clear that Kennedy would get the nomination, he quickly bowed out and urged the delegation to vote for Kennedy. During the subsequent campaigning, Smathers managed Kennedy's campaign in the Southeast.

Smathers retired from politics in 1969, at the end of this his third term in the Senate. He resumed practicing law in Miami and Washington, D.C. He died on January 20, 2007.


Scope and Content

The Senatorial Papers of George Smathers date from 1934 to 1969, primarily covering his eighteen years in the U.S. Senate. In addition to correspondence and legislative files, which make up the majority of the papers, the collection also includes speeches, press releases and media files, campaign material, news clippings and photographs. His papers provide an interesting perspective on the major historical events and political figures of the 1950s and 1960s. As with all political collections of significant size, the materials cover a wide range of subjects. Prominent people and subjects include John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, the civil rights movement, Latin America, Cuba, the space race, communism, the Cold War, the citrus industry, Interama, the Cross Florida Barge Canal, and the Everglades.

The collection is arranged into nine series, or groups, of documents. The Correspondence and Legislative Files make up the bulk of the collection. These files consist of correspondence, legislation, reports, news clippings, memoranda, and subject files. Smathers' Senate office staff originally organized his files according to the File Code of the U.S. Senate, and this arrangement has been maintained as much as possible (for more information, please refer to the series description for the Correspondence and Legislative Files).

The Speech Files series consists of speeches, statements, Congressional Record inserts, notes, and reference material such as news clippings. The Press Releases and Media Files include official releases, recorded statements, and statements made in television, radio and print media. The Campaign Files are sub-divided into four groups, one for each of the elections in 1950, 1956, 1960 and 1962. There final four series, which are smaller in size, include Latin America and Cuba Materials, News Clippings, Photographs, and a Miscellaneous series.

Although the papers are grouped into these logical series, according to function or format, it should be noted that information on particular topics can be dispersed throughout the collection and researchers may find relevant materials in several series. For example, information pertaining to Latin America can be found throughout the collection because there are legislative files, speeches, press releases, and other materials on that subject.

With the exception of the Correspondence and Legislative Files, which are filed according to the Senate filing scheme, the files in each series are arranged alphabetically and/or chronologically.


Access or Use Restrictions

Access

Collection is open for research.


Related or Separated Material

The Spessard Holland Papers at the University of Florida will be of use because Smathers and Holland were fellow Senators for the entirety of Smathers' tenure.


Administrative Information

Alternative Format Available

Due to its large size an alternate version of this descriptive finding aid, broken into several pages, is available at http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/Smathers.htm.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], George A. Smathers Papers, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Acquisition Information

The Smathers Papers were donated to the University of Florida by George A. Smathers.

Processing History

The collection originally was processed in the 1980s by department staff. In 2006-07, further processing was completed in order to improve access and create a detailed finding aid to the materials.


Contents List

Correspondence and Legislative Files, 1938-1969

Correspondence, legislation, news clippings, reports, memoranda, and subject files generated or accumulated during Smathers' service in the U.S. Senate from 1951 to 1969. The files in this series were originally arranged according to the File Code of the U.S. Senate. Under this scheme, each branch of the government and the various offices and departments under each branch were assigned a particular number code. For example, the President was assigned Filing Code 1, the State Department was assigned Filing Code 2, the Treasury Department was assigned Filing Code 3, etc. Although the filing code numbers are no longer maintained in this finding aid to the Smathers Papers, the arrangement still exists. The files primarily are arranged chronologically and then, within each year, they are arranged according to the Filing Code. As such, files dealing with the President normally are located at the beginning of each new year, followed by the State Department, followed by the Treasury Department, and so on. Please note that although Smathers' activities on various committees are documented in part by this series, the official committee records are maintained by the federal government.
Prominent people and subjects covered in this series include John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, the civil rights movement, Latin America, Cuba, the space race, communism, the Cold War, the citrus industry, Interama, the Cross Florida Barge Canal, and the Everglades. Materials pertaining to many of these individuals and topics can be found throughout this series, as they often spanned more than a single year or session of Congress. Also note that many of these subjects also are covered in other series in this collection. For example, materials pertaining to Latin America also can be found in the speeches, press releases, campaign material, etc.

Box 1

U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Central and Southern Florida flood control. 1953
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Cotee River dredging. 1954
US Supreme and Federal Courts: Establishment of Additional District and Judge. 1953-1954
US Supreme and Federal Courts: Term of Southern District of Florida's. 1947-1953
Federal Appointments - Judgeship - Southern District for Florida. 1950-1953
Media - Articles by Smathers. 1952-1953
Miscellaneous - "Ideas vs. Cannon". 1945-1946
Miscellaneous - Benefits for Reservists. 1948-1949
Miscellaneous - Clean Government. 1952
Miscellaneous - Compulsory Military Training, Personal Publicity. 1940-1947
Miscellaneous - Correspondence, News clippings, Speeches, etc. 1938-1946
Miscellaneous - Everglades National Park. 1947-1949
Miscellaneous - Everglades Park. 1947-1949
Miscellaneous - Everglades Park (opposition). 1946-1948
Miscellaneous - FBI retirement (H.R. 3428). 1947-1949
Miscellaneous - Federal Judges. 1947-1949

Box 2

Miscellaneous - Florida. 1944-1945
Miscellaneous - Freedom of Speech/Press. 1942-1947
Miscellaneous - Full Employment Bill. 1942-1947
Miscellaneous - General. 1941-1946
Miscellaneous - Health Plan; Socialist Medicine. 1945
Miscellaneous - Heart Bill Fact Sheets. 1947-1948
Miscellaneous - Heart research. 1948
Miscellaneous - Immigration Act of 1917. 1947-1948
Miscellaneous - Internationalism. 1941-1947
Miscellaneous - Internationalism: Cost of WWII. 1945
Miscellaneous - Lands (Shoreline, Gulf of Mexico). 1951
Miscellaneous - Legalized Gambling in Dade County. Not dated
Miscellaneous - Magazine articles, etc. 1953
Miscellaneous - Marine Active Duty, etc. 1945
Miscellaneous - Mediterranean Fruit Fly. 1952
Miscellaneous - Newspaper Articles, etc. 1941-1947
Miscellaneous - Optimist's Club Speeches. 1942
Miscellaneous - Post War Compulsory Military Training. 1942-1947
Miscellaneous - Program - Aside from Other Catalogued Issues. 1946-1952
Miscellaneous - Reciprocal Trade Treaty (Cannon's Vote). 1945
Miscellaneous - Reorganization of Congress. 1952
Miscellaneous - Reserve. 1952
Miscellaneous - Senate rules, Advisory Commission on. 1952
Miscellaneous - Speech Given at U of F. 1946
Miscellaneous - Speeches. 1942-1947
Miscellaneous - Tidelands. 1951-1952
Miscellaneous - War Brides. 1949
Miscellaneous - World Security Charter. 1942-1947

Box 3

82nd Congress-1st Session: Agriculture. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Appropriations. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Appropriations (H.R. 149). 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Civil Rights. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Civil Service retirement. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Conservation. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Controls. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Ft. Pierce. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Interior and Insular Affairs - Tidelands. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Marine Corps. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Mutual Assistance Act of 1941. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Narcotics. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: North Atlantic Survey Commission. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Personnel Needs and Practices, investigation of. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Postal - Size and Weight. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Refugee relief - Establishment. Of Special Committee to Coordinate. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Russia (Soviet Union). 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Santa Rosa County. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Social Security. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: St. Augustine - Seaport. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Sugar Act of 1948. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Taxes - Amendment to HR 4473; Citrus Groves. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Universal military training. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: University of Florida. 1951
82nd Congress-1st Session: Veteran's Affairs. 1951
82nd Congress-2nd Session: Interior and Insular Affairs - Alaskan statehood. 1951-1952
82nd Congress-2nd Session: Interior and Insular Affairs - Hawaiian statehood. 1951-1952
82nd Congress-2nd Session: National Holidays for national elections. 1952
82nd Congress-2nd Session: National Primary #1 of 5. 1952 Jan.-Feb.
82nd Congress-2nd Session: National Primary #3 of 5 (#2 of 5 not available). 1952 June
82nd Congress-2nd Session: National Primary #4 of 5. 1952 July-Sept.
82nd Congress-2nd Session: National Primary #5 of 5. 1952 Oct.-Dec.
82nd Congress-2nd Session: Primary Bill - Response from Secretary of State. 1952
82nd Congress-2nd Session: Smathers Legislation. 1951
82nd Congress-2nd Session: Smathers Legislation, Ft. Pierce claim. 1951
83rd Congress-1st Session: Aluminum - [import] duties. 1953-1955
83rd Congress-1st Session: Appropriations. 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Budget. 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), investigation of. 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Interior and Insular Affairs - Tidelands. 1953

Box 4

83rd Congress-1st Session: Interstate Commerce Act. 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Mutual Security Act. 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Pay periods - Postmaster, Officers and Employees. 1953-1954
83rd Congress-1st Session: Railroad Retirement Act. 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Rivers and Harbors - Boat Basin, East Apalachicola. 1953-1954
83rd Congress-1st Session: Rivers and Harbors - East Pass Channel via Destin. 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Rivers and Harbors - East Point in Apalachicola Bay. 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Rivers and Harbors - Pensacola Bay, improve entrance and channel. 1953-1954
83rd Congress-1st Session: Rivers and Harbors - St. George Island into Apalachicola. 1952-1954
83rd Congress-1st Session: Surplus [Government] property. 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Taxes (Amendt. Internal Revenue, working widowed mothers). 1953-1954
83rd Congress-1st Session: Taxes (exempt annuities, etc.). 1953-1954
83rd Congress-1st Session: Taxes (exemption transportation). 1953-1955
83rd Congress-1st Session: Taxes (Tobacco, Sugar). 1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: U.S. Air Force Academy (to establish in Florida). 1953-1954
83rd Congress-1st Session: Veterans - credit for service of cadets at academies. 1953-1954
83rd Congress-1st Session: War Powers Act of 1941 - Extending Title II of 1st War Powers. 1953-1955
83rd Congress-1st Session: Weather experiments. 1951-1953
83rd Congress-1st Session: Wometco theaters. 1946-1954
Miscellaneous - Correspondence. 1954-1955
Miscellaneous - Puerto Rico. 1953-1954

Box 5

Department of the Army - Army installations - Camp Blanding. 1951-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Beach erosion- Pinellas County Coast. 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Bridges. 1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Carabelle Harbor. 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Central and Southern Florida flood control. 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Everglades channel and harbor, Collier County. 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Ft. Myers beach. 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Ft. Pierce harbor. 1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: General #1 of 3. 1954 Jan-March
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: General #2 of 3. 1954 April-May
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: General #3 of 3. 1954 June-Dec.

Box 6

U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Gordon Pass, Collier County. 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Hillsboro River. 1950-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Lake Apopka - Beauclair Canal. 1951-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Rice Creek. 1950-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Snake Creek Canal. 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: St. Johns River - Intercoastal Waterway. 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: St. Lucie River. 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: St. Mary de Galvez Bay (Santa Rosa Peninsula). 1953-1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: West Palm Beach Canal (Flooded Area). 1954
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 1954
Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). 1954
Department of Justice - Office of Alien Property. 1954
Department of Justice - Parole Board. 1954
Post Office Department - Commemorative stamps. 1954
Post Office Department - Discontinuance of Post Offices. 1954
Post Office Department - Discontinued Office - Hypoluxo. 1954
Post Office Department - Discontinued Office - Munson. 1954

Box 7

Post Office Department - General #1 of 2. 1954, June-Dec
Post Office Department - General #2 of 2. 1954, Jan-May
Post Office Department - Lease - Purchase. 1954
Post Office Department - Patron mail. 1954
Post Office Department - Personnel, #1 of 2. 1950-1952
Post Office Department - Personnel, #2 of 2. 1953-1954
Post Office Department - Quarters and Sites. 1954
Post Office Department - Rural routes. 1954
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 1954
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - General. 1954

Box 8

Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - Office of Education. 1954
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - Pubic Health Service (PHS). 1954
Federal Appointments - Assistant U.S. Attorney - Northern District of Florida. 1954
Federal Appointments - Assistant U.S. Attorney - Southern District of Florida. 1952-1954
Federal Appointments - Collector of Customs. 1953-1954
Federal Appointments - U.S. Deputy Marshall. 1950-1954
Committees: Small Business Investigation - Olson Corp., Smith's Basin and Drydock Co. 1952-1954
Media - Newspapers. 1954
State Administrative Matters - Trademark and Cultural Center #1 of 2. 1954
State Administrative Matters - Trademark and Cultural Center #2 of 2. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Armed Services. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Civil Service Retirement Act (Widows). 1954-1955
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Federal Employees pay raise. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Florida - Alabama boundary line. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Gambling Tax Stamp Law. 1953-1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: General. 1954

Box 9

83rd Congress-2nd Session: Handicapped - Amending Vocational Rehabilitation Act. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Hawaiian statehood - American Legion Convention. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Hawaiian/Alaskan Statehood Amendments. 1954-1955
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Miscellaneous Legislation. 1953-1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Mutual Security Act - Increase Aid to Latin America. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: National Library Day. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: postal employees pay raise. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: proposed - Immigration and Nationality Act. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Railroad Retirement Act. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: School Lunch Program (Nursing Schools). 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Social Security - Amendment to Increase Aid. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Social Security - Extension of Federal Aid. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Social Security - Surplus Food Certificate Act of 1954. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: South American trip. 1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Statehood Amendment. 1953-1954
83rd Congress-2nd Session: Taxes - Personal Exemptions. 1954
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Central and Southern Florida flood control project. 1955
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Escambia River Channel. 1955-1956
Department of the Navy - NROTC - University of Miami detachment. 1955
Export-Import Bank of Washington, D.C. 1955

Box 10

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - General. 1953-1955
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - Orlando television (Channel 9). 1954-1955
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) - General. 1955
Federal Power Commission (FPC) - General. 1955
Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) - Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. 1955
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - General. 1954-1955
General Accounting Office (GAO) - General. 1953-1955
General Services Administration (GSA) - General. 1955
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - General. 1955
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - Home Loan Bank Board. 1953-1955
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) - General, #1 of 2. 1953-1955
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) - General, #2 of 2. 1953-1955
Library of Congress - General. 1955
National Mediation Board - General. 1955
Small Business Administration (SBA) - Act, Amdt. 1954
Small Business Administration (SBA) - General. 1955
Selective Service System / Commission - General. 1955
U.S. Supreme Court ( and Federal Courts) - General. 1952-1955
US Supreme Court - Segregation. 1955
Tariff Commission - Bicycles. 1955
Tariff Commission - General. 1955

Box 11

Tariff Commission - Japanese Shirts. 1955
Veteran's Administration (VA) - Miami Regional Office, #1 of 2. 1955
Veteran's Administration (VA) - Miami Regional Office, #2 of 2. 1955
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - Cross-ties (railroad) for Spain. 1954-1955
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - Foreign Operations Administration. 1955
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - General. 1955
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - United Transportation Workers of America against Uni. Cigar-Whelan stores. 1955
Federal Appointments - Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). 1955-1956
Federal Appointments - Judgeship. 1953-1956
Miscellaneous - Tennessee Valley Authority. 1953-1955
Democratic Party - Florida. 1954-1955
Media - Articles appearing in magazines. 1955
Media - Articles by Smathers. 1954-1955

Box 12

Media - Newspapers. 1954-1956
Media - Weekly newsletter. 1955
State Administrative Matters - Transformer plant - Fernandina Beach. 1955
Jobs - Homestead Air Force Base. 1955
Jobs - Patronage. 1955
Political - Labor unions. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: "See America First" Week. 1954-1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Aging and Aged Commission. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Central Intelligence Agency - establishment of joint committee on. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Civil Aeronautics Act. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Civil Aeronautics Act - Suspend Carrier Contracts. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Civil Service Retirement [Act]. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Communist Conspiracy. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Disarmament. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Everglades National Park. 1955-1958
84th Congress-1st Session: Federal Airport Act. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Federal Employees pay raise. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Florida East Coast Railway. 1956
84th Congress-1st Session: Florida Land Surveys. 1955-1956

Box 13

84th Congress-1st Session: Government Contracting. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Hawaiian Statehood. 1950-1954
84th Congress-1st Session: Indian River Road Survey. 1952-1963
84th Congress-1st Session: Interstate Oil Compact. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Kenaf and Ramie - to provide domestic supply of soft fibers. 1951-1956
84th Congress-1st Session: Latin America - Students Transportation Tax, etc. 1948-1956
84th Congress-1st Session: Lee County Conveyance. 1955-1956
84th Congress-1st Session: Lufthansa investigation. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: MacArthur, Gen. Douglas. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Marshals. 1954-1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Mental Health. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Military Housing. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Municipalities. 1954-1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Mutual Security Act -to aid Bolivia, Guatemala, and Haiti. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: National Amateur Radio Week. 1954-1955
84th Congress-1st Session: National Cemetery. 1954-1957
84th Congress-1st Session: National Mental Health Week. 1953-1956
84th Congress-1st Session: Poll tax. 1952-1956
84th Congress-1st Session: Postal employees salary increases. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Price Maintenance - Robinson-Patman Act. 1955-1956
84th Congress-1st Session: Proposed Keys properties - Clark, Harold A. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Proposed Keys properties - Knight, Jim. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Proposed Keys properties - Matheny, Dr. C.C. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Proposed Keys properties - Parrish, Dr. T.R. 1955

Box 14

84th Congress-1st Session: Railroad Retirement. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Resolution Honoring Sir Winston Churchill. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: School construction. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Small Business Committee. 1954-1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Social security - earnings limitation. 1951-1956
84th Congress-1st Session: Sugar. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Surplus Food Certificate Act of 1955. 1955-1956
84th Congress-1st Session: Transportation Act Amendment of 1955. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Trip leasing. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Veterans educational benefits. 1955
84th Congress-1st Session: Veterans hospital - Gainesville (neuro psych). 1955-1957
84th Congress-1st Session: War orphans. 1955-1956
The White House - Bureau of the Budget. 1956
The White House - General. 1956
International Organizations and Agencies - Cross-ties - Uruguayan State Railroad. 1955-1956
International Organizations and Agencies - Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. 1956
Department of State #1 of 2. 1956, Jan-May
Department of State #2 of 2. 1956, June-Dec

Box 15

Department of State -Father Rigbee in China. 1951-1956
Department of State -Herman J. Heidrich. 1956
Department of State -Hungarian Refugee Program. 1956
Department of State -International Cooperation Administration. 1956
Department of State -Middle-East situation. 1956
Department of State -Passport Office - Miami. 1955-1959
Department of the Treasury - Alcohol and Tobacco Tax. 1954
Department of the Treasury - Coast Guard. 1955-1956
Department of the Treasury - General. 1956
Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service (IRS) #1 of 2. 1956, Jan-June
Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service (IRS) #2 of 2. 1956, July-Dec.
Department of the Treasury - Office of the Comptroller of Currency. 1956
Department of the Treasury - Suspension of patrol service off coast of Mexico. 1956
Department of Defense - Florida projects. 1956
Department of Defense - General. 1956

Box 16

Department of the Army - Contract Helicopter School. 1955-1956
Department of the Army - General. 1956
Department of the Army - Quartermaster-General. 1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Canaveral Harbor Project. 1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Central and Southern Florida flood control. 1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Chronological files, #1 of 2. 1956, Jan.-June
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Chronological files, #2 of 2. 1956, July-Dec.
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Florida Cross-State Barge Canal. 1954-1956

Box 17

U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Florida projects. 1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). 1949-1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Jim Woodruff Dam. 1952-1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: MacArthur Causeway-Fixed Span. 1955-1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Ocklawaha River. 1952-1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Palm Beach Harbor (Lake Worth Inlet, Palm Beach Inlet). 1955-1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Pithlachascotee River. 1954-1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: St. Joseph Bay. 1955-1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: St. Petersburg Harbor Project - Bayboro Harbor. 1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Surveys: Port of Palm Beach, Miami Harbor, and Port Everglades. 1956-1958

Box 18

U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Tampa Harbor and Port of Tampa. 1952-1956
Department of the Navy - Bureau of Ships: Georgia Shipbuilding Corp. 1955
Department of the Navy - Bureau of Yards and Docks. 1956
Department of the Navy - General, #1 of 2. 1956, Jan.-June
Department of the Navy - General, #2 of 2. 1956, July-Dec.
Department of the Navy - Marine Air Station Opa Locka. 1952-1956
Department of the Navy - Marine Corps. 1956

Box 19

Department of the Navy - Naval Air Field: Broward County. 1953-1956
Department of the Navy - Naval installations. 1956
Department of the Navy - Sanford Naval Air Station. 1956
Department of the Air Force - Air Bases. 1956
Department of the Air Force - #1 of 2. 1956, Jan.-June
Department of the Air Force - #2 of 2. 1956, July-Dec.
Department of the Air Force - Elgin AFB: Housing (Hurlburt Field)(Wherry Housing). 1953-1956
Department of the Air Force - Elgin AFB: Lumbering and Sawmill. 1953-1956
Department of the Air Force - Guided Missile Test Center, Titusville: expansion. 1953-1956
Department of the Air Force - Homestead AFB. 1956
Department of the Air Force - J. Mark Wilcox Memorial. 1956
Department of the Air Force - Miami International Airport; Dade County Port Authority. 1956

Box 20

Department of the Air Force - Tyndall AFB. 1956
Department of the Air Force - Tyndall AFB, Red Fish Point, #1 of 2. 1955-1956
Department of the Air Force - Tyndall AFB, Red Fish Point, #2 of 2. 1952-1954
Department of Justice - Executive clemency; Restoration of civil rights and pardons. 1954-1956
Department of Justice - General. 1956
Department of Justice - Office of Alien Property. 1956
Department of Justice - Parole Board. 1956
Post Office Department - #1 of 2. 1956, Jan.-June
Post Office Department - #2 of 2. 1956, July-Dec.
Post Office Department - Discontinued and Consolidated facilities. 1956

Box 21

Post Office Department - Establishment of post offices. 1956
Post Office Department - Quarters and Sites. 1956
Department of the Interior (DOI) - Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). 1956
Department of the Interior (DOI) - Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 1955-1956
Department of the Interior (DOI) - Bureau of Mines: D.E. Porter. 1952-1956
Department of the Interior (DOI) - Department of Fish and Wildlife Service - General. 1954-1955
Department of the Interior (DOI) - Department of Fish and Wildlife Service - "Red Tide". 1956
Department of the Interior (DOI) - Everglades National Park. 1955-1956
Department of the Interior (DOI) - Everglades National Park (Special). 1955-1956
Department of the Interior (DOI) - Everglades National Park Concession. 1954-1955
Department of the Interior (DOI) -General. 1955-1956
Department of the Interior (DOI) -National Park Service. 1956
Department of the Interior (DOI) -Office of Territories. 1956
Department of Agriculture - Federal Cucumber Marketing Agreement. 1956
Department of Agriculture - Federal Meat Grading Regulations. 1956
Department of Agriculture - Forestry Service. 1956
Department of Agriculture - General. 1956

Box 22

Department of Agriculture - Rural Electrification Administration (REA). 1956
Department of Agriculture - Soil Conservation Service. 1956
Department of Agriculture - Tung Oil. 1956
Department of Commerce - Airport projects under Federal Aid: Airport Program. 1956
Department of Commerce - Broward City International Airport. 1956
Department of Commerce - Bureau of Public Roads. 1956
Department of Commerce - Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA). 1956
Department of Commerce - General. 1956
Department of Commerce - Henderson: Hillsborough Airport. 1956
Department of Commerce - Patent Office. 1956
Department of Commerce - Weather Bureau. 1956
Department of Labor - General. 1956
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - All County Files. 1956
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 1955-1956
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - General. 1955-1956
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - Office of Education. 1956
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - Pubic Health Service (PHS). 1956

Box 23

Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) - Social Security cases. 1956
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB): - Delta Airlines. 1956
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB): - Establishment of additional airline service from Miami to NYC. 1955-1956
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB): - General. 1955-1956
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB): - North American Airlines. 1955-1956
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB): - Panama City- Atlanta Airline. 1955-1956
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB): - Texas: Florida case. 1956
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB): - TransAmerican Airlines. 1955-1956
Civil Service Commission - General. 1956
Civil Service Commission - Government group insurance. 1956
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) - General. 1956
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - FCA. 1956
Export-Import Bank of Washington, D.C. - General. 1956
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - Consolidation of American Cable and Radio Corp. and Western Union. 1955-1956
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - Florida-Georgia Television Co. 1956
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - General. 1956
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) - Exchange Bank of West Palm Beach. 1956
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) - General. 1955-1956
Federal Power Commission (FPC) - General. 1956

Box 24

Federal Power Commission (FPC) - Natural Gas Pipeline. 1955-1957
Federal Reserve System - General. 1956
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - General. 1956
General Accounting Office (GAO) - General. 1956
General Services Administration (GSA) - Federal Building: Miami. 1956
General Services Administration (GSA) - General.
General Services Administration (GSA) - Surplus government property - Buy and Sell. 1956
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - City of Fernandina Beach. 1956
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - Cocoa-Melbourne area. 1955-1956
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - Federal Housing Administration (FHA). 1956
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - Fort Walton Beach area. 1955-1956
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - General. 1956
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - Home Loan Bank Board. 1956

Box 25

Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - Morrison Homes. 1956
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - Public housing. 1955-1956
Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) - Savings and Loan: case files. 1955-1956
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) - A.L. Mechling Barge Lines, Inc. 1956
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) - Florida East Coast Railway. 1956
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) - General. 1956
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) - Mercury Freight Lines, Inc. 1956
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) - Ogden Trucking Co. 1955-1956
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) - Rate increase: Railway Express. 1956
National Mediation Board - General. 1955-1956
Small Business Administration (SBA) -Laris Shipbuilding Co.; Reconstruction Finance Corp. 1956-1957
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - General. 1956
Foreign Governments - General. 1956
U.S. Supreme Court ( and Federal Courts). 1956
Tariff Commission - General. 1956
Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) - Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). 1956
Veteran's Administration (VA) - General. 1956
Veteran's Administration (VA) - Veterans hospitals. 1956

Box 26

Veteran's Administration (VA) - Veterans hospitals: Gainesville and Tallahassee. 1952-1956
Veteran's Administration (VA) - Veteran's Posts' lists. 1956
Veteran's Administration (VA) - War orphans' educational assistance. 1956
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - General. 1956
Federal Appointments - General. 1955-1956
Committees - Senate Committees. 1956
Congressional Record - Inserts. 1956
Democratic Party - Florida. 1956
Democratic Party - Florida Committee State Funds. 1956
Democratic Party - National. 1956
Media - News releases. 1956
Media - Newspapers, #1 of 2. 1956
Media - Newspapers, #2 of 2. 1956
Media - Weekly newsletter. 1956

Box 27

Radio and Television - Radio and TV programs. 1956
Radio and Television - Radio scripts. 1956
Radio and Television - TV scripts. 1955
Jobs - Patronage. 1956
Political - 1956 campaign. 1956
Political - 1956 Presidential campaign. 1956
Political - Announcement statement. 1956
Political - Baker County. 1956
Political - Bay County. 1956
Political - Broward County. 1956
Political - Columbia County. 1956
Political - Dade County. 1956
Political - Desoto County. 1956
Political - Duval County. 1956

Box 28

Political - Escambia County. 1956
Political - Florida counties - General. 1956
Political - Florida election laws and voting. 1956
Political - General . 1956
Political - Hillsborough County. 1956
Political - Jacksonville office. 1955-1956
Political - Lake County. 1956
Political - Lee County. 1956
Political - Leon County. 1956
Political - Letters and materials mailed. 1956
Political - Madison County. 1956
Political - Manatee County. 1956
Political - Marion County. 1956
Political - Martin County. 1956
Political - Monroe County. 1956
Political - Okaloosa County. 1956
Political - Orange County. 1956
Political - Palm Beach County. 1956
Political - Pasco County. 1956
Political - Pinellas County. 1956
Political - Polk County. 1956
Political - Sarasota County. 1956
Political - Seminole County. 1956
Political - St. John's County. 1956
Political - Suwannee County. 1956
Political - Walton County. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Appropriations - Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, Flint waterways. 1955-1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Appropriations - Public Works. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Appropriations - Tampa Harbor. 1955-1956

Box 29

84th Congress-2nd Session: Automobile dealers. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Civil Aeronautics Act, #1 of 2. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Civil Aeronautics Act, #2 of 2. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Civil Air Patrol. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Corporate income tax rates. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Customs - Glass. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Don Cesar Place. 1956-1957
84th Congress-2nd Session: Federal election laws. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Fisheries Act. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Florida Key Deer. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Handicapped - Fares [public transportation]. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Mutual Security Act #1 of 2. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Mutual Security Act #2 of 2. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Mutual Security Act 1956 - Amdt. Latin America. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: National Airlines - Langdon P. Marvin, Jr. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: National Life Insurance. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Public works - Rivers and Harbors. 1956-1957

Box 30

84th Congress-2nd Session: Schools. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Social Security - State Employees Amendment. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Social Security (Long Amendment). 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Supreme Court, #1 of 4. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Supreme Court, #2 of 4. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Supreme Court, #3 of 4. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Supreme Court, #4 of 4. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Tax Annuities. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Taxes - Admissions - Inter-American Authority. 1956
84th Congress-2nd Session: Taxes - Fulbright Amendment. 1957
The White House - General. 1956-1957
Department of State - Hungarian refugees. 1956-1957
Department of State - International Cooperation Administration. 1957
Department of State - Miscellaneous. 1957
Department of the Treasury - Comptroller of the Currency. 1956-1957
Department of the Treasury - Elks Corporation, West Palm Beach Lodge. 1953-1954
Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 1956-1957
Department of Defense - General. 1957
Department of Defense - Ray K. Smathers. 1953-1957
Department of Defense - Science show, Tampa. 1956-1957

Box 31

Department of the Army - Construction of National Guard Armories in Florida. 1955-1956
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Central and Southern Florida flood control - St. Lucie and Martin Counties. 1957
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Civil works project in Florida. 1957-1958
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: (Florida) Cross-State Barge Canal. 1957
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: General, #1 of 2. 1957, Jan.-June
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: General, #2 of 2. 1957, July-Dec
U.S. Army - Corps of Engineers: Notification of contract awards to Florida Firms. 1958