Smoot, Reed (1862-1941), served as a Republican United States senator from Utah from 1903 to 1933. For many years, he was chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Tax and tariff problems were his special assignments, and he was coauthor of the Smoot-Hawley tariff law in 1930. American protectionists liked the high rates of the law, but many economists criticized it. Smoot strongly supported programs to promote economy and efficiency in government.
Smoot also was one of the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). He became an apostle in that church in 1900. Smoot was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah.
