Dear Editor,
For the 79th time, the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner was held at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Thursday night, Oct. 10.
The event customarily brings together presidential candidates from both parties for a night of what the New York Archdiocese has described as “nonpartisan” and “self-deprecatory” good humor while raising millions for Catholic charities. It has become an opportunity for the candidates to trade light-hearted barbs in an attempt to demonstrate getting along, at least for one night.
Approximately 1,500 political, religious, business, and social guests paid $5,000 per table seat. Proceeds from the sold-out event and other donations raised more than $10 million. The dinner was named for a former Democratic governor of New York who, in 1928, was the first Catholic to receive a major party nomination for president. Since the first dinner was held in 1945, it has become a ritual in American politics. It is generally the last event at which presidential candidates share a stage before the election.
The dinner was hosted by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York. Comedian Jim Gaffigan served as master of ceremonies for the event, which has become a tradition for presidential candidates. Notables in attendance included House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, were in attendance. Conspicuously absent was Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, who had decided in September to skip the storied fundraiser. AP News reported that Harris’ choice to break tradition would allow her to continue campaigning in battleground states.
The Harris campaign sent event organizers a prerecorded video to broadcast to attendees. In it, the vice president appears with comedian Molly Shannon, who plays the Catholic schoolgirl character she made famous on Saturday Night Live. Shannon tells Harris the night’s event is “one of the biggest dinners since the Last Supper,” to which Harris responds, “It’s a very important dinner, and it’s an important tradition that I’m so proud to be part of.”
When Donald Trump began addressing the audience, he joked, “It’s a true pleasure to be with you this evening. These days, it’s a pleasure to be anywhere in New York without a subpoena for my appearance.” Trump then criticized Harris’s non-attendance. “My opponent feels like she doesn’t have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful to the event, and in particular to our great Catholic community.”
Of course, Mr. Gaffigan took a swipe at Kamala in his role as emcee. “I’m sorry, why is VP Harris not here?... This is a room full of Catholics and Jews in New York City. This is a layup for the Democratic nominee.” Gaffigan also noted President Biden’s absence. “Of course, Joe Biden was our second Catholic president after JFK. President Biden could not be here tonight — the DNC ensured that.”
Peter Wibell, Rutledge