James Vernon Smith
Encyclopedia
James Vernon Smith was a U.S. Representative
from Oklahoma
.
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, Smith was educated in Tuttle
public schools and attended Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts
at Chickasha, Oklahoma
.
He engaged in farming and cattle raising.
He served as member of the board of regents, Oklahoma Four-Year Colleges.
Smith was elected as a Republican
to the 90th Congress
(January 3, 1967-January 3, 1969).
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1968 after a 1967 redistricting plan forced him into running against either fellow Republican Happy Camp
or Democrat Tom Steed
. Smith chose to take on Steed, a conservative Democrat from Shawnee, and was defeated by a 54% to 46% tally despite the fact that Nixon won a plurality in the newly drawn district
.
Nominated by President Nixon
to be Administrator of Farmers Home Administration, confirmed by the Senate
March 16, 1969, and served until his resignation in 1973.
He died in a wheat field fire at his farm northwest of Chickasha, June 23, 1973.
He was interred in Fairlawn Cemetery, Chickasha, Oklahoma
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, Smith was educated in Tuttle
Tuttle, Oklahoma
Tuttle is a city in Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,294 at the 2000 census.Tuttle is a largely agricultural community with a focus on wheat, cotton, corn, alfalfa hay, Bermuda grass hay, and cattle. Nearby Braum's Dairy, the largest farm in the area, is located just...
public schools and attended Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, or USAO, is a public liberal arts college located in Chickasha, Oklahoma. It is the only public college with a strictly liberal arts-focused curriculum in Oklahoma. It provides Bachelor's Degrees and many students move on to graduate schools across...
at Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha is a city in and the county seat, business and employment center of Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,850 at the 2000 census. Chickasha is home to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and hosts an annual Festival of Light celebration located at...
.
He engaged in farming and cattle raising.
He served as member of the board of regents, Oklahoma Four-Year Colleges.
Smith was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the 90th Congress
90th United States Congress
The Ninetieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1969, during the last two years of...
(January 3, 1967-January 3, 1969).
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1968 after a 1967 redistricting plan forced him into running against either fellow Republican Happy Camp
John Newbold Camp
John Newbold Camp, known as Happy Camp was a Republican U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.Born in Enid, Camp attended elementary and high schools in Blackwell, Douglas, and Waukomis. He attended Phillips University in Enid. A banker, he became president of Waukomis State Bank...
or Democrat Tom Steed
Tom Steed
Thomas Jefferson "Tom" Steed was a military veteran, newspaper editor and Democratic politician and a retired U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma. He often stated that his experience in journalism, the military and in the U.S...
. Smith chose to take on Steed, a conservative Democrat from Shawnee, and was defeated by a 54% to 46% tally despite the fact that Nixon won a plurality in the newly drawn district
.
Nominated by President Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to be Administrator of Farmers Home Administration, confirmed by the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
March 16, 1969, and served until his resignation in 1973.
He died in a wheat field fire at his farm northwest of Chickasha, June 23, 1973.
He was interred in Fairlawn Cemetery, Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha is a city in and the county seat, business and employment center of Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,850 at the 2000 census. Chickasha is home to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and hosts an annual Festival of Light celebration located at...
.