Marion Hartzog Smoak
Marion Hartzog Smoak | |
---|---|
Chief of Protocol of the United States | |
In office July 1, 1972 – March 30, 1974 | |
President | Richard Nixon |
Preceded by | Emil Mosbacher |
Succeeded by | Henry E. Catto Jr. |
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 23rd district | |
In office 1967–1968 | |
Personal details | |
Born | LLB) | July 8, 1916
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Marion Hartzog Smoak (July 8, 1916 – May 4, 2020) was an American attorney and politician who served as Chief of Protocol of the United States under President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1974. Smoak previously served as a member of the South Carolina Senate and was a member of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign staff and transition team in 1980.[1][2]
Early life and education
A native of
Military service
Commissioned into the
, during which he qualified for the Master Parachutist Badge by making 58 jumps.Smoak next served in the International Affairs Division of the Army Staff Judge Advocate's Office at the Pentagon and also as a Legislative Affairs Officer supporting the United States Congress, United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of State; he retired in 1961 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.[3]
Career
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
After a stint in a private law practice in Aiken County, South Carolina, in 1964 Smoak ran for the South Carolina Senate, losing by less than 1% of the vote; elected on his second try in 1966, he became one of the first five Republicans to serve in that body since Reconstruction. Smoak served on several committees, including Agriculture, Atomic Energy, Veterans Affairs, and the State Constitutional Revision Committee.[4]
In March 1970, Smoak was appointed Deputy Chief of Protocol at the United States Department of State. He was named Acting Chief in June 1972 and given the rank of Ambassador in September 1972.[5] He was confirmed as Chief in 1974.[6]
During his tenure, he oversaw several major events, including the state funerals of Presidents
In 1980, Smoak was named co-chairman of the Committee on Finance for Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign, then served on Reagan's State Department transition team. He subsequently returned to private law practice at the Washington, D.C. firm of Shipley, Smoak and Henry.[3]
Personal life
Smoak was married to Mary Frances Meister Smoak (1920–2015) for 56 years. They had three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. At age 102, he maintained homes in Washington, D.C. and Palm Beach, Florida. As of May 2019, he was the oldest living graduate of The Citadel.[7][2]
Smoak died on May 4, 2020, aged 103, in Palm Beach, Florida.[8][9]
References
- ^ "The Citadel Alumni Association". secure.citadelalumni.org.
- ^ a b "101-Year-Old Washingtonian Witnessed John F. Kennedy's Engagement, Still Drinks a Martini Every Day". September 1, 2017.
- ^ a b "Interview" (PDF). www.adst.org.
- ^ "Congressional Record Extensions of Remarks Articles". www.congress.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ Krebs, Albin. "Notes on People".
- ^ "Smoak, Mary Frances". Herald-Review.com. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ Donnelly, Shannon. "Palm Beach obituary: Ambassador Marion Smoak dies at 103". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ Donnelly, Shannon (May 23, 2020). "Palm Beach obituary: Ambassador Marion Smoak dies at 103". Palm Beach Daily News. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
External links
- Marion H. Smoak Papers at South Carolina Political Collections, University of South Carolina
- Council of American Ambassadors Biography