What is the al smith dinner?

The Al Smith Dinner is an annual white-tie fundraising dinner held in New York City. It benefits the Archdiocese of New York's charities.

A key feature of the dinner is the speeches by prominent political figures, traditionally the two major party nominees for President of the United States. The speeches are expected to be humorous and self-deprecating, offering a temporary truce from the often-bitter political campaigning.

The dinner is named in honor of Alfred E. Smith, a former Governor of New York and the first Catholic nominee for president. The Archbishop of New York traditionally presides over the event. It is known for attracting high-profile guests from the political, business, and media elite.