| Howard "Dan" Smoot | |
| Birth Date: | 5 October 1913 |
| Birth Place: | East Prairie, Missouri, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Tyler, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Federal Bureau of Investigation agent Journalist
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| Spouse: | Mabeth Evans Smoot (divorced) |
| Children: | Larry SmootBarney Smoot |
| Parents: | Bernie and Dora Allbright Smoot |
| Party: | Independent |
| Alma Mater: | Southern Methodist University Harvard University |
Howard Smoot, known as Dan Smoot (October 5, 1913 – July 24, 2003), was a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and a conservative political activist. From 1957 to 1971, he published The Dan Smoot Report, which chronicled alleged communist infiltration in various sectors of American government and society.
Smoot was unsuccessful in his campaign for public office, but he rose to fame as a pundit on radio and television. He initially served as the spokesperson and face of H.L. Hunt's Facts Forum before leaving to create his own.[1]
In 1962, Smoot wrote The Invisible Government concerning early members of the Council on Foreign Relations. 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 and wrote for the society's American Opinion bi-monthly magazine.[2] [3]
In 1972, Smoot served as campaign manager for American Independent Party presidential candidate John G. Schmitz.