<P> To keep Smith busy , Paine suggests he propose a bill . With the help of his secretary , Clarissa Saunders ( Jean Arthur ) , who was the aide to Smith 's predecessor and had been around Washington and politics for years , Smith comes up with a bill to authorize a federal government loan to buy some land in his home state for a national boys ' camp , to be paid back by youngsters across America . Donations pour in immediately . However , the proposed campsite is already part of a dam - building graft scheme included in an appropriations bill framed by the Taylor political machine and supported by Senator Paine . </P>
<P> To keep Smith busy , Paine suggests he propose a bill . With the help of his secretary , Clarissa Saunders ( Jean Arthur ) , who was the aide to Smith 's predecessor and had been around Washington and politics for years , Smith comes up with a bill to authorize a federal government loan to buy some land in his home state for a national boys ' camp , to be paid back by youngsters across America . Donations pour in immediately . However , the proposed campsite is already part of a dam - building graft scheme included in an appropriations bill framed by the Taylor political machine and supported by Senator Paine . </P>
who played saunders in mr smith goes to washington
who played saunders in mr smith goes to washington
Jean Arthur
Jean Arthur