The Bend Bulletin, however, identified him as the political editor and lightheartedly approved of the idea, commenting that it would "draw visitors to it [the Capitol] and further advertise its beauty".
[4] Smyth was responsible for organizing the Dewey–Stassen debate in the 1948 Republican Party presidential primaries between Thomas E. Dewey and Harold Stassen, which had major national impact.
Smyth, having been pitched the idea by Oregon Senator Richard L. Neuberger, refused to partake in the poll, reasoning that it would counter his objective to interest well-meaning citizens in the political arena while simultaneously criticizing politicians he disagreed with in good faith.
[8] Smyth gave a speech in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly while it was in session, which was unprecedented by any other outsider in living memory.
Throughout Smyth's tenure at the Oregon Journal, where he covered many presidential campaigns, he was often asked who he thought would win the elections he wrote about.
[1] Smyth became engaged to Marie Mongrain, described as "a popular member of Portland's younger set", in August 1937; they would get married in April 1938.
[1][16][17] His condition improved after the surgery,[17] with then President-elect John F. Kennedy sending Smyth a telegram wishing well, although his wife Marie said that he was too ill to receive it.
[20] A February 1961 resolution in the Oregon State Senate expressed sadness over Smyth's death and praised his tenure as a "skillful, fair, and impartial interpreter of the work of this legislature".
[21] Smyth was also skilled in the area of equestrianism, riding a horse at the night show of the Oregon State Fair.