William French Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William French Smith
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| 74th United States Attorney General | |
| In office January 23, 1981 – February 25, 1985 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Civiletti |
| Succeeded by | Edwin Meese |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William French Smith II
August 26, 1917 Wilton, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 1990 (aged 73) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Marion Smith Jean Webb |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles (BA) Harvard University (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant |
| Unit | United States Navy Reserve |
William French Smith II (August 26, 1917 – October 29, 1990) was an American lawyer. He served as the 74th United States Attorney General under President Ronald Reagan. After getting his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1942, Smith joined the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
He became friends with Ronald Reagan in 1966. Reagan later appointed him to the University of California Board of Regents. Smith was chosen to be Attorney General after Reagan won the 1980 presidential election. He started his role on January 23, 1981, and served until February 25, 1985. After his time as Attorney General, Smith returned to work at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He passed away from cancer on October 29, 1990.
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Early Life and Education
William French Smith was born in Wilton, New Hampshire, on August 26, 1917. He grew up in Boston. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts in economics, from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1939. He then received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1942.
Smith was related to Urian Oakes, who was a president of Harvard College in the 1600s. His father, also named William French Smith, was a company president. From 1942 to 1946, Smith served in the United States Navy Reserve. He reached the rank of lieutenant.
In 1946, he joined the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Los Angeles. He met Ronald Reagan before Reagan's 1966 campaign for governor. Smith became a close friend and a trusted advisor to Reagan. In 1968, Reagan appointed him to the University of California Board of Regents. He later served three terms as the chairman of the board.
Career Highlights
Serving as Attorney General
On December 11, 1980, President-elect Ronald Reagan nominated Smith to be the 74th Attorney General. He started his job at the United States Department of Justice on January 23, 1981. He served until February 25, 1985.
As Attorney General, Smith worked on many important projects. He helped create a commission to set new rules for federal sentencing. He also supported Reagan's plans for welfare reform. Smith recommended a large package of ideas to fight crime. These ideas included stricter sentences for certain crimes. He also worked on new policies for immigration and refugees. Smith aimed to make the government more helpful to businesses. He also made changes to the Freedom of Information Act of 1966.
Smith was part of several important legal groups. These included the American Law Institute and the American Judicature Society. After serving as Attorney General, he joined the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.
Impact on the Supreme Court
Smith played a key role in the nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor. She became the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Before this, O'Connor was a judge and politician in Arizona. She was the first female majority leader in the United States, serving in the Arizona Senate.
President Ronald Reagan officially nominated O'Connor on August 19, 1981. The U.S. Senate approved her nomination on September 21, 1981, with a unanimous vote of 99–0. Many people praised Smith for improving the Justice Department. He also helped create a system for choosing federal judges. This system aimed to select judges who were both conservative and well-qualified.
Later Years and Advisory Roles
After leaving his role as Attorney General, Smith returned to the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He also served on the boards of several large companies. He became the chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation. In this role, he was very important in finding a location for the library. People remember him as a quiet but very effective leader.
Smith was also part of the Tower Commission. This group was formed by President Reagan in 1986 to investigate the Iran–Contra affair. The commission included former Senator John Tower, former Secretary of State Edmund Muskie, and former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft.
Death and Legacy
William French Smith died from cancer in Los Angeles on October 29, 1990. He was 73 years old.
President Reagan spoke about Smith, saying, "Our nation was indeed fortunate to have a person of his excellence and patriotism in the cabinet. And we were made better as a country because of Bill's work." He added that Smith was a "valued and trusted friend and adviser." Smith was buried on November 1 at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. A memorial service was held where Reagan and others spoke about his life.
Smith had three sons and one daughter with his first wife, Marion. His second wife, Jean Webb Vaughan Smith, passed away in 2012.
