1873-1944
New York Governor, 1919-1921,1923-1929,
Democratic Nominee for President, 1928

Smith's Early Career.

With only an eighth-grade education, Alfred E. Smith, an Irish Catholic New Yorker raised in the Fourth Ward of the city's Lower East Side, entered the rough-and-tumble world of New York City politics as a Tammany Hall loyalist. He began his political career in 1903 as a representative in New York's state assembly. During his legislative career Smith earned a reputation as a hardworking, progressive legislator. In 1918 New York elected the aggressive politician as its governor. In 1920 Smith lost his reelection bid when the rising conservative, xenophobic tide swept Republicans into office in New York, as well as across the nation. But Smith easily recaptured the governorship in 1922 and served three consecutive terms following that victory.

Progressive Governor.

While governor, Smith developed a reputation as a progressive reformer. Consistent with national progressive reform...