Raising a toast to one of New York's most famous sons

The Al Smith Dinner is not just a white-tie charity event, it’s also a traditional staging post in the run-up to the presidential election

American Democratic politician and governor of New York, Al Smith (1873 to 1944), his bid for the presidency was marred by anti-catholic and anti-immigrant feeling. Picture: MPI/Getty Images

Last Thursday night the Alfred E Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, more commonly known as the Al Smith Dinner, was held in the Hilton Midtown Hotel in New York.

It’s a big deal not just a white-tie charity event (“tails are warmly encouraged, but a tuxedo coat is acceptable”) which has raised millions for Catholic charities over the years, hosted by Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York.