Former senator to speak about career experiences
By APRIL BAILEY
Staff writer
The Aiken County Historical Society will hold a special meeting Wednesday, said the club's president, Allen Riddick.
The meeting will feature former South Carolina State Sen. Marion H. Smoak, who is also a member of the Aiken County Historical Society, Riddick said.
The meeting, during which Smoak will talk about his experiences from throughout his illustrious career, will be held at the Aiken County Historical Museum at 6 p.m. Smoak said he expects local residents to be entertained during what he said should be an "interesting" discussion.
Ambassador Smoak served as the deputy, acting and chief of protocol for President Richard M. Nixon from 1969 to 1974. A native of Aiken County, he received a bachelor's degree from The Citadel and later a law degree from the University of South Carolina Law School.
In the early part of his career, Smoak served as instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and as staff judge advocate of the 11th and 82nd Airborne Divisions, the Berlin Command, Germany and in the International Affairs Division, Department of the Army.
After retiring from the U.S. Army in 1961, he began to delve into the political arena in his home state and was elected to the South Carolina State Senate in 1966.
While serving as chief of protocol for Nixon, Smoak traveled twice with Ronald Reagan (who was then governor of California) to several eastern countries acting as State Department adviser.
He also served on the presidential delegation to the inauguration of President Prastrana in Bogota, Colombia, in 1970, to the inauguration of President Echeverria of Mexico in 1970, the funeral of King Frederick IX of Denmark in 1972 and the Rattanakosin Bicentennial in Thailand in 1982. Smoak retired from the Department of State in 1974 with a title of "ambassador."
Smoak said most of his discussion will center on his time as chief of protocol and his encounters and experiences.
Smoak has also donated several copies of his book, "Gallant Chance," to the Aiken County Historical Society. Riddick said copies will be sold at the meeting.
Smoak said though his book is partially biographical, it is written as a novel, detailing some of his experiences in office.
Local residents are invited to attend the meeting. A reception will follow the event.
Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.
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