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“RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE AND CAREER OF AMBASSADOR MARION H. SMOAK” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E961-E962 on July 23, 2019.
The State Department is responsibly for international relations with a budget of more than $50 billion. Tenure at the State Dept. is increasingly tenuous and it's seen as an extension of the President's will, ambitions and flaws.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE AND CAREER OF AMBASSADOR MARION H. SMOAK
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HON. MICHAEL WALTZ
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Mr. WALTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and career of Ambassador Marion H. Smoak as he celebrates his 103rd birthday. Ambassador Smoak has dedicated many years to public service and embodies the principles of a true servant leader.
Ambassador Smoak earned a bachelor's in English and History from The Citadel in 1938. He went on to receive a law degree from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1941. After receiving his law degree Ambassador Smoak served in the Army as a Judge Advocate and was stationed in Berlin, Germany and New Caledonia, Japan with the 11th and 82nd Airborne Divisions. Following his tour abroad, he became a law professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Upon leaving his position at West Point, Ambassador Smoak continued to serve in the Army as a Legislative Liaison Officer right here in Washington, D.C. During his service, he assisted in drafting legislation and performed liaison duties both with Congress and the Department of Justice, State, and Department of Defense. Ambassador Smoak then became Chief of the Legislative Drafting Division for the Judge Advocate General. He served as Chief until 1961 when he retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following his retirement, Ambassador Smoak continued to serve his community by pursing elected office in the South Carolina State Senate.
Upon completing his term in the Senate, Ambassador Smoak was appointed to serve at the State Department as the Deputy Chief of Protocol, then Chief of Protocol for President Nixon. During this time Smoak was witness to many historic events of diplomacy. When he retired from the State Department in 1974, he was given the title of Ambassador. His storied career continued when he was named Co-Chairman on the Committee of Finance for then Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan. Ambassador Smoak went on to practice international law until his retirement.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the career and lifelong servant leadership of Ambassador Smoak. It is with great pride that we thank him for his service and wish him continued health and happiness with his friends, family, and loved ones. Furthermore I hope that he may continue to enjoy his well-deserved daily martinis.
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