Lawrence Smith graduated from Marquette University Law School and began his legal career in Racine, Wisconsin. He served as an officer in the 32nd U.S. Infantry Division during World War I and later held leadership roles within the American Legion. Smith entered politics by running for district attorney and later won a special election for Wisconsin's congressional seat. He demonstrated adaptability in his foreign policy stance, initially opposing U.S. involvement in World War II before shifting his position post-Pearl Harbor. Smith consistently advocated for reduced federal spending and opposed the growing power of the federal government.

Lawrence Smith's political philosophy is marked by a complex oscillation between isolationism and interventionism, particularly in foreign policy. His early advocacy for stockpiling weaponry and exporting war material juxtaposed with his later support for nuclear arms control treaties reveals a strategic ideological agility. Domestically, Smith's opposition to expanding federal power and his surprising stance against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 highlight a deeply rooted conservatism with unexpected policy divergences.