Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Charity, fundraising |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Founder | Cardinal Francis Spellman |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Archdiocese of New York |
Key people | Archbishop of New York (host) |
| Products | Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner (annual fundraising gala) |
| Website | www |
The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, commonly referred to as the Al Smith Dinner, is a prestigious annual white-tie gala held in New York City that raises funds for Catholic charities dedicated to aiding children within the Archdiocese of New York. This event takes place every third Thursday in October at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and is hosted by the Archbishop of New York. It is organized by the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation to honor Alfred E. Smith, who served four terms as governor of New York and was the first Catholic nominee for a major party's presidential ticket in 1928.
Established in 1945 by Cardinal Francis Spellman following Smith’s passing, the dinner evolved into a significant fixture in American political life by 1960. It frequently serves as one of the final occasions where candidates from major political parties appear together before an election. Beyond political figures, notable speakers have included Tony Blair, Tom Brokaw, Bob Hope, Henry Kissinger, and other influential leaders from civic, business, and religious spheres.
History
Since 1960, it has become customary for presidential candidates to attend during election years. Some notable pairs include John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon (1960); Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford (1976); Carter alongside Ronald Reagan (1980); George H. W. Bush with Michael Dukakis (1988); Al Gore and George W. Bush (2000); Barack Obama and John McCain (2008); Obama versus Mitt Romney (2012); Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump (2016); as well as Trump and Joe Biden (2020). The 1992 dinner saw Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush absent due to a scheduling conflict with a debate. Typically, candidates use this platform to deliver lighthearted speeches featuring self-deprecating humor and playful jabs at their opponents, resembling a comedic roast. The event raised $3.9 million in 2018.
Beginning in 1980, strained relations between the Democratic Party and the Catholic Church over abortion issues have affected candidate participation. For instance, Jimmy Carter faced boos in 1980; Walter Mondale chose not to attend in 1984 citing debate preparations amid these tensions. In both 1996 and 2004, decisions by the Archdiocese led to presidential candidates being excluded—reportedly because of disagreements on abortion policies—with vice-presidential contenders speaking on their behalf instead.
Among memorable highlights is George W. Bush’s 2000 quip about “the elite” constituting his support base, a phrase later adopted in political campaigns and media discourse. The 2016 dinner, overseen by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, attracted widespread attention for remarks made by Clinton and Trump; despite generating a record $6 million for charity, Trump’s risqué jokes about Clinton sparked boos from the audience.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 dinner transitioned to a virtual format with Trump and Biden participating remotely, emphasizing discussions on Catholicism rather than comedic elements.
In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first major-party presidential contender since Walter Mondale in 1984 to forgo attending the dinner in person, opting instead for a pre-recorded message. This absence drew criticism from Donald Trump who labeled it "deeply disrespectful," while Cardinal Dolan conveyed disappointment, noting Mondale’s subsequent electoral defeats after his own absence.
List of U.S. presidential nominees who attended the dinner
| Election | Democratic nominee | Republican nominee |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | John F. Kennedy | Richard Nixon |
| 1968 | Hubert Humphrey | |
| 1976 | Jimmy Carter | Gerald Ford |
| 1980 | Ronald Reagan | |
| 1984 | ||
| 1988 | Michael Dukakis | George H. W. Bush |
| 2000 | Al Gore | George W. Bush |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | John McCain |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Donald Trump |
| 2020[lower-alpha 1] | Joe Biden | |
| 2024 |
In media
An episode of The West Wing entitled "The Al Smith Dinner" was inspired by this dinner event.
See also
- Gridiron Club Dinner
- International Debutante Ball
- United States presidential inaugural balls
- Viennese Opera Ball in New York
- White House Correspondents' Dinner
External links
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- Articles with short description
- Charity events in the United States
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Annual events in New York City
- Recurring events established in 1945
- Roast (comedy)
- Catholic culture
- Catholic charities
- 1945 establishments in New York City
- Waldorf Astoria New York
- Pages with reference errors