Tucker P. Smith
Tucker P. Smith | |
---|---|
![]() A photo of Smith from a 1948 voters' pamphlet. | |
Born | January 29, 1898 |
Died | June 25, 1970 |
Alma mater | University of Missouri |
Tucker Powell Smith (January 29, 1898 – June 25, 1970) was an American academic and political activist. He was an economics professor at Brookwood Labor College and Olivet College.[1] He was the Socialist Party of America's nominee for Vice President in the 1948 United States presidential election alongside presidential nominee Norman Thomas.
Background[]
Circa 1930, Smith graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree and master's degree in political science. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Sigma Rho, and .[2]
Career[]
In the 1930s, Smith was a faculty member at Brookwood Labor College.[3] On June 5, 1933, with the departure of A.J. Muste, Smith was appointed director of the college until it closed in 1937.[4]
Smith was a long-time pacifist. He was a member of the and the Fellowship of Reconciliation (both major pacifist organizations during and after World War I).[citation needed]
In 1948, Smith was selected as the Socialist vice presidential candidate to run along with Norman Thomas. The 1948 Socialist ticket garnered 139,569 votes.[5] In 1930 Tucker was the Socialist candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 2nd District.[6] Tucker finished third of four candidates with 6,144 votes for 3.8% of the total vote.[7]
On January 8, 1949, Smith was dismissed from his position at Olivet College because he had organized a teachers' union following the dismissal of colleague and professor of political science . In May 1949 Socialist Party dinner, New York University philosophy professor Sidney Hook attacked Smith's dismissal, arguing that teachers should be judged on merit only by their peers.[8]
References[]
- ^ Havel, James T. (January 1, 1996). "The candidates". Macmillan Library Reference USA. Retrieved March 8, 2017 – via Google Books.
- ^ "T.P. Smith to Oppose Compulsory Militarism." Cornell Daily Sun. March 4, 1930.
- ^ "Brookwood Labor College Collection" (PDF). Wayne State University. 1972. pp. 2, 13, 27, 31. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "Reuther, Victor George". Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "SOCIALISTS: Voice of the Lonely Lion". May 17, 1948. Archived from the original on May 16, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2017 – via www.time.com.
- ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Smith, S to T". PoliticalGraveyard.com. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ 1930election.pdf
- ^ "Hook Calls for Aid to Ousted Teacher". New York Times. 30 April 1949.
- 1898 births
- 1970 deaths
- Socialist Party of America politicians from New York (state)
- People from Eaton County, Michigan
- Socialist Party of America vice presidential nominees
- University of Missouri alumni
- American pacifists
- Brookwood Labor College faculty
- Olivet College faculty
- Economists from Michigan
- American politician stubs