Smith was also on the faculty of the Master of American History and Government program at Ashland University.
[2] The winner of the 2008 Francis Parkman Prize and the 2002 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography, Smith was called "today’s foremost biographer of formidable figures in American history.
While attending Princeton, Smith was mentored under law professor and political scientist William M. Beaney.
In 1964, he obtained a Ph.D. from the Department of Public Law and Government of Columbia University.
Smith began his teaching career as assistant professor of government at Dartmouth College, a post he held from 1963 until 1965.