Nixon Smiley

Who was Nixon Smiley?

Nixon Smiley was a reporter, columnist, and feature writer for the Miami Herald as well as an author of numerous books.

Smiley was born in Orange Park, Florida and was raised by his maternal grandparent after losing both parents by the age of 7.

His career in newspapers began at the Florida Times Union in Jacksonville. He was in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII. Upon his return he began a 30 plus year career at the Herald and authorship of 15 books.

He worked at the Herald from 1940 until 1973. The Nixon Smiley Research Papers are held at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.

His wife Evelyn was an artist, and Smiley was a devoted gardener who volunteered at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, where a Nixon Smiley collection recording his records as Interim Director from 1953 to 1961 is kept as well as papers covering his field trips. There is a Nixon Smiley Pineland Preserve.

Smiley authored:

Knights of the Fourth Estate: The Story of the Miami Herald June 1984

Crowder Tales June 1973

The Miami Herald Front Pages, 1903-1983 by Nixon Smiley

On the Beat and Offbeat June 1983

Florida, Land of Images April 1977