[3] At Princeton, Smith studied jurisprudence, political science, and English common law under Woodrow Wilson.

[1] During World War I, he worked for the United States Food Administration in Colorado and afterwards in Washington, D.C.[3] He moved to New Jersey in 1919, and served as executive secretary (assistant to the president) of Princeton University from 1920 to 1927.

[1] He then served as a lecturer in Princeton's department of politics (1927–1930), teaching international relations and foreign policy.

[3] On November 7, 1944, Smith was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of W. Warren Barbour.

[6] Smith married Helen Dominick, whom he met during his time at Columbia, in 1902; the couple had two daughters and a son.