The Al Smith Dinner

Last night was the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.

The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner is an annual white tie charity fundraiser for Catholic Charities, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York on the third Thursday of October (Smith died on October 4). It is organized by the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation in honor of former New York Governor Al Smith, the first Catholic presidential candidate. The first dinner was held in 1945.

Since 1960 (when Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy were speakers), it has been a stop for the two main presidential candidates during several U.S. election years.

Candidates have traditionally given humorous speeches poking fun at themselves and their opponents, making the event similar to a roast. It is generally, the last event at which the two candidates share a stage before the election.

Below are Cardinal Dolan's remarks from last night's dinner: