Howard Smoot, known as Dan Smoot (October 5, 1913 –July 24, 2003), was a

Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...

agent and a

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

political

activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fr ...

. From 1957 to 1971, he published ''The Dan Smoot Report'', which chronicled alleged

communist Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a ...

infiltration in various sectors of American government and society.

Background

Departure from the FBI

Spreading his conservative message

In 1962, Smoot wrote ''The Invisible Government'' concerning early members of the

Council on Foreign Relations The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an American think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international relations. Founded in 1921, it is a nonprofit organization that is independent and nonpartisan. CFR is based in New York Ci ...

. Other books include ''The Hope of the World''; ''The Business End of Government''; and his autobiography, ''People Along the Way''. Additionally he was associated with Robert W. Welch, Jr.'s

John Birch Society The John Birch Society (JBS) is an American right-wing political advocacy group. Founded in 1958, it is anti-communist, supports social conservatism, and is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right, or libertarian ideas. ...

and wrote for the society's ''American Opinion'' bi-monthly magazine. In 1972, Smoot opserved as

campaign manager {{Political campaigning A campaign manager, campaign chairman, or campaign director is a paid or volunteer individual whose role is to coordinate a political campaign's operations such as fundraising, advertising, polling, getting out the vote ...

for

American Independent Party The American Independent Party (AIP) is a far-right political party in the United States that was established in 1967. The AIP is best known for its nomination of former Democratic Governor George Wallace of Alabama, who carried five states in ...

presidential candidate

John G. Schmitz John George Schmitz (August 12, 1930 – January 10, 2001) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives and California State Senate from Orange County, California. He was also a member of the John Birch Society. In 197 ...

Books

* ''The Hope of the World'' (1958) * '' The Invisible Government'' (1962) * ''The Business End of Government'' (1973) * ''People Along the Way: The Autobiography of Dan Smoot'' (1993)

References

External links