▁res umed ▁his ▁fled g ling ▁law ▁practice . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 4 , ▁he ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Illinois ▁General ▁Assembly . ▁ ▁Upon ▁the ▁death ▁of ▁Ever ett ▁Dir ks en , ▁Governor ▁Richard ▁B . ▁Og il vie ▁appointed ▁Smith ▁to ▁fill ▁his ▁vac ancy ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Senate . ▁He ▁served ▁from ▁September ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 9 6 9 ▁to ▁November ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 1 9 7 0 . ▁He ▁ran ▁for ▁ret ention ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁special ▁election , ▁but ▁was ▁defeated ▁by ▁Ad la i ▁E . ▁Stevens on ▁III . ▁ ▁When ▁Smith ▁ran ▁against ▁Stevens on , ▁the ▁Ut ah ▁College ▁Republic ans ▁sent ▁a ▁then ▁unknown ▁nin ete en - year - old ▁student , ▁Karl ▁R ove , ▁to ▁work ▁on ▁Smith ' s ▁campaign . ▁ ▁Death ▁Smith ▁died ▁in ▁Al ton ▁and ▁is ▁buried ▁at ▁Sun set ▁Hill ▁C emetery . ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁▁▁ ▁Category : 1 9 1 5 ▁birth s ▁Category : 1 9 7 2 ▁death s ▁Category : Un ited ▁States ▁Navy ▁officers ▁Category : Un ited ▁States ▁sen ators ▁from ▁Illinois ▁Category : Spe akers ▁of ▁the ▁Illinois ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁Category : W ashington ▁University ▁School ▁of ▁Law ▁al umn i ▁Category : Pe ople ▁from ▁Al ton , ▁Illinois ▁Category : Ill inois ▁Republic ans ▁Category : App oint ed ▁United ▁States ▁sen ators ▁Category : Ill inois ▁College ▁al umn