Ralph Tyler Smith

Ralph Tyler Smith ( born October 6, 1915 in Granite City, Illinois; † August 13, 1972 in Alton, Illinois ) was an American politician ( Republican), who represented the state of Illinois in the U.S. Senate.

Smith attended the public schools of his home town and then the Illinois College in Jacksonville, where he graduated in 1937. He then enrolled at the Law School of Washington University in St. Louis and was admitted in 1940 after a successful study of law in the Bar Association. He subsequently worked as a lawyer in Granite City, before he committed himself after the attack on Pearl Harbor in the reserve of the U.S. Navy. In July 1942 he joined the active service he held until January 1946.

After his retirement from the Navy Smith returned to Illinois and resumed his legal activity in Alton again. In 1954, he began his political career when he was elected to the House of Representatives from Illinois; total followed by seven elections. During this time he was in parliament in 1963 Whip of the Republican majority faction; In 1967 and 1969, he was elected for two years Speaker of the Chamber.

However, was yet in 1969 the change in the U.S. Senate. The governor of Illinois, Richard Ogilvie, Smith appointed to succeed the late Everett Dirksen. He took his mandate from the September 17, 1969 true and also appeared at the time of election, but lost this Democrat Adlai Ewing Stevenson and consequently had on November 3, 1970 from the Senate retire. During the election campaign he had been supported at the initiative of the College Republicans from Utah of a 19 - year-old student: Karl Rove later became one of the most important advisor to U.S. President George W. Bush.