In the 20th century, South Providence produced two governors and a chief justice, but the most constitutionally powerful position in state government eluded it until 1980 when Matt Smith became Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Raised by Irish immigrant parents on the second floor of a modest home at the corner of Potters Avenue and Ocean Street, Smith graduated from St. Michael’s School, La Salle Academy, and Providence College. After earning his master’s degree at Providence College in 1965, he completed his formal education, first at Notre Dame University and then at Brown University where he studied history and political science under Hall of Fame professor Dr. Elmer E. Corwell.
After a brief start as a public-school teacher in 1968 he was selected by his former PC professors Rev. Cornelius Forster, O.P. and Dr. Patrick T. Conley to become the college’s first archivist. The archives were created as a result of a gift to the college of the voluminous papers of the recently deceased United States Congressman John E. Fogarty.
Smith was an ideal selection because of his unparalleled knowledge of mid-century Rhode Island politics corresponding to the career of John Fogarty. He had written authoritative scholarly articles on Pawtucket’s legendary political boss Thomas P. McCoy and an analysis of the famous “Long Count” Elections of 1956 pitting incumbent Dennis J. Roberts against Judge Christopher Del Sesto. Especially noteworthy was Smith’s analysis of the ethno-cultural aspects of the controversial election. He also served on Congressman Robert Tierman’s Advisory Council.
After Smith’s establishment of the archives, he taught American History at P.C. for twenty years resulting in the rank of Archivist Professor and worked with Patrick Conley to produce the highly-acclaimed Catholism in Rhode Island: The Formative Era for the centennial observance of the Diocese of Providence.
In 1973 while expanding the archives with the collections of other political notables such as Dennis J. Roberts, Smith won a special election as a representative from the so-called Reservoir Triangle neighborhood of Providence. Few, if any, legislators entered the General Assembly with such a deep knowledge of the Rhode Island political system.
Given this knowledge, his political instincts, his wit, and his ingratiating personality he soon became Finance Committee chairman (1977) and then rose to the rank of Speaker of the House in 1980. During his legislative tenure he sponsored numerous beneficial programs such as the sales tax exemption for clothing and residential water, a reduced burden for state heating assistance, higher education assistance for students, an open space program, a code of ethics, a small business investment act, the establishment of the Capital Television System, a statewide 911 emergency telephone system, and a state holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, an automobile Lemon law, an increase in the legal drinking age to twenty-one, the establishment of an asbestos abatement program, a parental leave act, and a bonus welfare program for women among other initiatives.
In 1988, Smith left the General Assembly to become Clerk of the Supreme Court and State Court Administrator. In that powerful position he incurred the wrath of his nemesis the Providence Journal, a feud that originated with the historian Smith’s pro-Irish Catholic denunciations in print of the Journal’s long history of ethnocultural nativism originating in the Dorr Rebellion of 1841-43. After a hyperbolic series of articles dealing with Smith’s repair of a dent to his auto caused by an object that fell from his courthouse roof, Smith resigned in 1988.
Since the end of his public career Smith has devoted considerable attention to the Catholic Church serving as Eucharistic Minister at St. Augustine’s Church. In 2016 he received the Lumen Gentium Award from the Diocese of Providence for his wide-ranging service to Catholicism.
Most recently, Smith joined with historian Russell DeSimone to publish the book “Fighting” Bob Quinn: Political Reformer and the People’s Advocate based upon his many interviews with Governor Quinn.
Smith’s Irish heritage has been exemplified by his appointments as Grand Marshal of the Newport and Providence St. Patrick’s Day Parades in 1984 and 1990, respectively. His scholarship and commitment to education has been recognized by his receipt of honorary doctorates from Johnson & Wales and Salve Regina Universities.
Smith married the former Claire Crepeau and lovingly cared for her during her long, final illness. The couple had four children: Judge Matthew Jr., Andrew, Daniel, and Kathleen, plus nine grandchildren.
Patrick T. Conley, J.D., Ph.D.